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KntereJ  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1882,  by  the  Women's  Silk  Cultvek 

Association  of  the  U.  S.,  in  the  Office  of  Librarian  of  Congress, 

at  Washington,  D.  C. 


AN 


^INSTRUCTION+BOOK^ 


ART  OF  SILK  CULTURE 


COMPILED   BY   THE 


Women's  Silk  Culture  Association  of  the  United  States, 

FROM    VARIOUS    AUTHORITIES    AND    ACTUAL    EXPERIMENTS.    FOR    THE 

USE  OF  THE  WOMEN  OF  THEIR  COUNTRY.  WHOM  THEY  HOPE 

THEREBY    TO    AID    IN    THE    PERFECTION    OF    THIS 

BEAUTIFUL   INDUSTRY    IN    AMERICA. 


NEW  AND  ENLARGED  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA 

1882. 


1=  la  :e3  IF -A.  c  IE . 


IN  presenting  an  instruction  book  to  the  public,  the  Asso- 
ciation do  not  claim  to  give  their  own  experience  in  the 
practical  branches  of  sericulture,  not  their  results  from  such 
culture.  As  citizens  we  have  no  surroundings  to  enable  us  to 
practically  test  this  agricultural  pursuit,  but  we  give  such  facts 
as  are  gleaned  from  the  best  books  published  on  this  subject, 
and  some  of  the  personal  efforts  or  plans  of  those  who  have 
successfully  accomplished  Silk  Culture.  The  instructions  are 
explicit  and  contain  all  the  information  which  can  be  given  on 
the  subject  of  Silk  Culture  to  those  at  a  distance,  and  who 
cannot  attend  the  school.  Facts  have  been  gathered  from  the 
best  manuals  on  the  subject,  and  the  aim  has  been  to  present 
the  simplest  and  easiest  methods  of  pursuing  the  work.  It  is 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  a  large  class  of  intelligent  people  all 
over  our  land,  and  commends  itself  especially  to  the  young, 
as  developing  an  interest  in  one  of  the  humblest  yet  most  use- 
ful of  God's  creatures,  requiring  the  intelligent  care  and  ob- 
servation of  the  habits  of  a  worm  that  possesses  three  strange 
organizations,  whose  product  forms  one  of  the  most  valuable 
commodities  of  commerce  and  manufactures,  and  well  may  we 
say  part  of  "  a  nation's  wealth  surrounds  a  worm." 

We  are  indebted  to  Felix  Gillet,  of  Nevada  City,  California, 
an  intelligent  and  experienced  silk  culturist,  for  one  chapter 
of  excellent  matter,  also  to  a  work — by  the  late  John  Clarke — 
on  the  Mulberry  tree,  permission  having  been  granted  to  the 
Association  by  his  daughter.  Miss  Clarke,  of  Philadelphia,  for 
the  use  of  extracts  from  her  father's  book,  as  her  donation  to 
the  women  of  her  country. 


Instruction  Book. 


Also  to  Prof.  H.  C.  Kerr,  State  Geologist  of  North  Carolina, 
for  his  valuable  illustrated  article ;  to  Ira  Dinock,  President 
of  the  Nonotock  Silk  Company,  of  Connecticut,  for  illustra- 
tions of  reeling;  to  Lorin  Blodget,  Esq.,  for  cut  of  the  reel ; 
Werner  Istchner,  Esq.,  for  his  valuable  letter,  and  to  several 
other  authorities  for  the  portions  of  our  book  relating  chiefly 
to  the  culture  of  the  silk. 

Women's  Silk  Culture  Association. 
Philadelphia,  Aprils  1882. 


XlSTTlROTDUOTXaiSr. 


WHEN  Providence  does  anything  for  man,  his  business 
is  to  cooperate.  It  has  done  much  for  us ;  has  given 
soils  and  climates  positively  omniferous.  China  herself  boasts 
of  nothing  superior.  We  cannot  do  wrong  in  stepping  on 
the  traces  of  4,000  years.  Experiments  have  been  made  in 
all  parts  of  the  country,  and  their  success  has  established  the 
fact  that  the  Mulberry  will  grow,  and  the  silkworm  thrive 
throughout  the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  the  United  States. 

The  process  of  reeling,  also,  which  was  formerly  supposed 
to  be  of  difficult  performance,  has  been  so  familiarized  that 
children  perform  it  with  skill  and  dexterity.  The  gathering 
of  the  foliage,  and  the  feeding  of  the  worms,  may  be  effected 
by  the  children  and  such  other  members  of  the  family  as.  are 
incapable  of  more  arduous  labor ;  one  aged  person  being 
always  in  the  direction  of  the  business  as  a  responsible  head. 
If  productive  labor  is  a  source  of  wealth,  both  to  nations  and 
individuals,  it  is  desirable  that  it  shoidd  be  increased  to  its 
greatest  possible  extent.  This  can  only  be  done  by  seeking  out 
objects  to  which  the  labor  of  the  young,  old,  and  infirm  is 
adapted ;  and  among  these,  there  is  none  more  appropriate  than 
the  culture  of  Silk. 

The  importance  of  this  cidture  and  manufacture,  both  in  a 
pecuniary  and  moral  point  of  view,  is  immense.  There  is  prob- 
bably  no  other  business  in  which  the  same  amount  of  capital 
will  yield  an  equal  amount  of  income.  There  can  be  no 
better  investment.  The  small  amount,  too,  necessary  to  a 
commencement  of  the  business  is  also  an  encouragement 
which  no  other  holds  out  to  the  enterprising.     A  feiv  acres  of 


Instruction  Book. 


land  of  ordinary  fertility,  and  a  few  dollars  in  money  for  the 
purchase  of  seeds  a7td  plants,  will  enable  a  Silk  grower  to  lay 
the  foundation  for  a  plantation  on  a  considerable  scale.  An- 
other facility  peculiar  to  the  business  is  the  ease  with  which 
operations  are  extended,  without  a  corresponding  extension 
of  capital.  The  ratio  in  which  the  Mulberry  may  be  multiplied, 
by  means  of  cuttings  and  layers,  is  astonishing.  Experiments 
have  proved  that,  with  a  little  labor  and  attention,  they  may 
be  more  than  quadrupled  every  year.  This  will  enable  the 
farmer  in  moderate  circumstances  to  compete  with  the  capi- 
talist, and  prevent  monopolists  from  engrossing  the  whole  of 
the  business  and  its  profits.  To  the  individual  of  limited 
means,  having  a  large  family  of  children,  the  culture  of  Silk 
holds  out  encouragement  of  extraordinary  promise;  while,  at 
the  same  time,  it  affords  ample  opportunity  for  the  capitalist 
or  the  incorporated  company  to  make  large  investments  with 
the  moral  certainty  of  success. 


PART  I. 


REMARKS  ON  THE   CULTIVATION   OF  THE   MUL- 
BERRY FOR  THE  FOOD  OF  SILKWORMS. 


IN  offering  a  few  suggestions  on  the  cultivation  of  the  Mul- 
berry tree  in  its  different  varities  as  food  for  silkworms, 
we  first  urge  upon  agriculturists  to  plant  these  thrifty  and 
beautiful  trees,  as  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and  as  hedges 
around  their  fields.  This  latter  plan  places  the  culling  of 
leaves  within  the  reach  of  children  and  women,  and  saves 
labor.  In  making  the  decision  to  do  this,  we  again  urge  that 
orders  for  trees  be  sent  not  later  than  June  and  July  for 
autumn  planting,  and  in  the  winter  months  for  spring  plant- 
ing. This  enables  us  to  send  better  trees  and  to  arrange  our 
orders,  giving  timely  opportunity  to  the  nurseryman  to  select 
his  trees  and  ship,  just  at  the  proper  time  for  planting  ;  which 
varies  in  our  Northern  States  from  February  to  April,  and 
from  September  to  December.  We  are  about  negotiating  with 
French  houses  for  the  importation  of  trees,  until  the  young 
nurseries,  that  will  doubtless  be  planted,  shall  have  time  to 
reach  a  proper  stage  for  transplanting.  Four  varieties  are 
recommended :  the  Moms  Alba  or  White  Mulberry,  the 
Moms  Elata,  the  Morus  Japanica  or  Japanese  Mulberry,  and 
the  Morus  Brossa  or  Morus  Tartarean. 

"The  first  thing  to  be  done  towards  the  production  of  silk, 
is  a  provision  of  food  for  the  thrifty  insect,  which  will  take  due 
care  to  perform  its  part,  if  only  we  are  equally  industrious'to 


Instruction  Book  in  the 


perform  ours  ;  and  its  only  proper  and  legitimate  aliment  is 
the  leaf  of  the  Mulberry  Tree.  This  tree  has  been  endowed 
by  nature  with  many  properties  that  render  its  cultivation, 
wherever  that  may  be — in  the  hedge,  in  the  plantation,  in  the 
cornfield,  or  as  an  ornament  around  our  premises  and  dwell- 
ings— an  object  happily  combining  utility,  convenience,  and 
pleasure.  Independently  of  the  primary  purpose  of  its  culture, 
the  production  of  an  agreeable  and  elegant  article  of  clothing, 
it  leaves  the  surface  less  impoverished  and  incommoded  than 
it  is  by  many  other  trees,  in  consequence  of  its  roots  striking 
into  the  earth  not  obliquely,  but  more  deeply  and  perpendicu- 
larly." The  ground,  therefore,  between  mulberries,  or  their 
rows,  may,  in  many  cases,  be  successfully  occupied  with  other 
products  ;  particularly  since  neither  the  shade  of  the  tree,  nor 
the  dropping  of  rain  from  its  leaves,  is  considered  prejudicial 
to  plants  growing  beneath.  It  is  also  a  matter  of  universal 
observation  that  no  insect  except  the  silkworm  will  feed  on 
the  mulberry  leaf.  The  experiment  was  purposely  tried  by 
M.  Pullein,  which  satisfactorily  demonstrated  that  the  product 
of  this  tree  is  the  exclusive  property  of  the  silkworm,  or  the  bi- 
sect which  apparently  works  only  for  man. 

The  White  Mulberry  {morus  alba)  has  generally  superseded 
all  other  kinds  in  this  country  for  the  feeding  of  silkworms. 

They  still,  however,  cultivate  the  Black  [morns  nigra)  in 
China ;  and  in  Spain  and  Persia  it  is  said  that  they  still  prefer 
that  species.  The  Morus  Alba  (white  mulberry)  is  the  species 
upon  the  leaves  of  Avhich  the  silkworms  are  now  fed  ;  it  has 
sound  wood,  beautiful  leaves  and  sweet  fruit,  and  is  either 
useful  as  a  forest  or  ornamental  tree.  It  is  also  one  of  the 
most  useful  trees  in  the  world,  when  its  importance  in  con- 
nection with  Silk  Culture  is  taken  into  consideration. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  Morus  Alba,  all  of  which  may 
be  utilized  for  the  feeding  of  silkworms,  but  the  variety  called 
Multicaulis  is  both  in  France  and  Italy  considered  the  best. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


This  variety,  however,  has  been  found  rather  more  tender 
in  this  country  than  the  other  species,  and  scarcely  forms 
more  than  a  low  shrub  in  the  North,  and  which  is*often  frozen 
to  the  ground  in  severe  winters. 

MoRUS  Tartarica. 

Moms  Tartarica,  or  Tartarian  Mulberry,  abounds  on  the 
borders  of  the  Sea  of  Azoph,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Volga 
and  of  the  Don,  or  Tanais.  The  leaves  are  large,  oval,  oblong, 
serrated  and  shining.  The  fruit  resembles  the  Morus  Nigra. 
The  leaves  afford  silk  of  the  finest  quality.  Count  Dandolo, 
in  the  enumeration  of  his  twelve  species,  mentions  the  Morus 
CoNSTANTiNOPOLiTANA  as  Well  as  the  Morus  Tartarica.  But 
he  nowhere  mentions  the  Morus  Broiissa.  This  circumstance, 
and  the  proximity  of  Constantinople  to  Broussa,  warrant  the 
presumption,  until  evidence  to  the  contrary,  that  these  two  are 
the  same.  It  has  been  asserted  that  the  Broussa  can  be  raised 
from  its  own  seed  ;  it  is,  therefore,  a  species ;  and  whether  this 
species  may  be  considered  or  not  the  same  as  the  Morus  Tar- 
tatica,  or  Tartarian  Mulberry,  may  be  more  fully  determined 
hereafter. 

MoRETTi  Elata. 

The  Moretti  Elata  does  not  generate  by  seed  as  some  other 
varieties  do,  but  sustains  the  hardest  winters,  and  is  the  best 
adapted  for  the  North.  It  is  fit  for  standard,  forest  or  orna- 
mental trees.  It  is  straight,  with  an  elegant  shape  and 
luxuriant  foliage.  It  is  proof  against  grasshoppers,  borers,  or 
any  kind  of  vermin  which  destroy  so  many  species  of  trees  in 
this  country.  It  gives  one  pound  of  cocoons  to  every  fourteen 
pounds  of  leaves. 

Morus  Japonica, 

Morus  Japanica  or  Japanese  Mulberry  tree — this  kind  was 


lO  Instruction  Book  in  the 

introduced  into  France  by  Camille  Beauvais,  and  has  the  larg- 
est leaves,  giving  the  same  quantity  of  Silk  as  the  Moretti. 
It  is  so  easily  picked  that  French  breeders  prefer  to  plant  it 
to  any  other  kind.  It  stands  well  hard  winters,  as  proved  by 
five  years'  growth  in  Kansas,  if  well  cared  for. 

MoRUS  Alba. 

Morus  Alba,  white  or  Italian  Mulberry,  was  originally  from 
China,  but  has  been  most  extensively  cultivated  in  Italy  ahd 
France  for  ages.  The  silk  which  -it  produces  is  of  the  finest 
quality.  The  leaves  are  cordate,  sirrate,  entire  or  lobed.  Their 
upper  surface  is  a  shining  green,  perfectly  smooth,  and  the  under 
has  some  hairs  set  on  its  edges.  The  flowers  are  monoecial ; 
some,  males,  disposed  in  cylindrical  chatons  supported  on 
peduncles  longer  than  themselves ;  the  others,  females,  form 
round  or  oval  chatons,  rather  short  peduncles,  which  are  suc- 
ceeded by  small  berries  of  the  same  form,  and  of  a  red  or 
white  color.  The  fruit  is  white,  roundish  oblong,  and  insipid. 
It  is  a  tree  of  rapid  growth.  In  the  climate  of  Paris  it  attains 
to  the  height  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet,  but  in  more  southern 
countries  of  forty  or  fifty  feet,  with  a  trunk  from  six  to  eight 
feet  circumference.* 

This  tree  is  known  to  have  attained  the  venerable  age  of 
more  than  four  hundred  years.  Its  superiority  over  every 
other  mulberry,  except  the  Morus  Multicaulis,  consists  in  this  : 
it  is  clothed  with  leaves  fifteen  or  twenty  days  earlier  than  the 
others ;  the  silkworms  therefore,  come  more  speedily  at  ma- 
turity, and  are  thus  preserved  from  the  inconveniences  of  the 
hot  season.     The  White  Italian  Mulberry,  moreover,  not  only 


*  The  bark,  according  to  Rosier,  may  be  converted  into  linen  of  the  fineness  of  silk.  For  this 
purpose,  the  young  wood  is  gathered  in  autumn,  during  the  ascent  of  the  second  sap,  and  im- 
mersed for  three  or  four  days  in  water.  It  is  then  taken  out  at  sunset,  spread  on  grass,  and 
returned  to  the  water  at  sunrise,  and  this  is  repeated  until  finally  it  is  prepared  and  spun  like 
flax. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  tl 

grows  more  rapidly,  but  has  a  more  abundant  foliage ;  and 
leaves  more  delicate  and  nutricious,  whence  the  silk  is  hand- 
somer and  of  a  better  quality. 

The  White  Mulberry  {morus  alba)  grows  to  the  height  of 
twenty  or  thirty  feet,  is  more  rapid  in  growth  than  the  black, 
and  contains  more  of  the  glutinous  substance  resembling 
caoutchouc,  which  gives  tenacity  to  silk  produced  by  the 
worms  fed  on  them,  and  which  is  found  in  all  plants  on  which 
they  exist. 

The  leaves  of  the  White  Mulberry,  which  produce  the  best 
quality  of  commercial  silk,  are  alternately  glossy  on  the  upper 
side,  smooth  on  both  sides,  oval,  tough,  and  vary  in  shape, 
but  are  generally  heart  shaped.  The  wood  of  this  tree  has  a 
good  reputation  and  can  be  well  worked  by  cabinetmakers, 
and  utilized  for  fence  posts,  etc. 

Morus  Alba  Rosea. 

Morus  Alba  Rosea,  Rose-leafed  Mulberry,  is  slender,  with 
branches  more  extended  than  all  the  other  grafted  varieties. 
It  may,  however,  attain  a  great  height.  Its  wood  is  more 
solid  and  compact.  Its  leaves  are  shining  as  if  varnished, 
rarely  lobed,  borne  on  rose  petioles  ;  and  its  fruit  is  of  a  rose- 
grey,  very  large,  and  one  pound  of  cocoons  per  eighteen  of  its 
leaves,  produces  very  fine  silk. 

Morus  Alba  Nana. 

Moms  Alba  Nana,  Dwarf  White  Mulberry,  is  a  little  larger 
than  that  known  under  the  name  of  Constantinople  Mulberry, 
Its  leaves  are  like  those  of  the  grosse  reine,  but  its  berries  are 
white.  It  may  be  advantageously  cultivated,  since  its  boughs 
are  near ;  and  this  tree  of  small  size  will  furnish  as  many 
leaves  as  another  thrice  its  magnitude ;  and  a  greater  number 
can  be  planted  on  the  same  space  of  land. 


12  Instruction  Book  in  the 

The  Morus  Multicaulis. 

Some  remarks  on  the  Morus  Multicaulis  will  not  be  amiss 
in  this  little  treatise  on  trees.  It  has  many  advantages — from 
its  rapid  growth  and  large  leaves,  is  especially  adapted  to  the 
South — but  will  thrive  well  as  far  north  as  the  43d  meridian  ; 
indeed  the  Mulberry  grows  well  wherever  the  apple  tree  will 
grow. 

In  the  South,  however,  it  would  probably  be  the  most 
profitable  variety  to  cultivate.  There  it  would  produce  leaves 
more  rapidly,  consequently  more  tender  and  perhaps  of  a 
better  quality  for  the  worm  ;  but  even  there  it  would  require 
more  care  in  its  cultivation. 

Where  it  is  possible,  it  would  be  well  to  grow  several  kinds, 
so  that  the  superiority  of  any  one  over  the  other  may  be 
determined. 

Remarks. 

The  propagation  of  the  Mulberry  is  very  easy  by  layers  and 
by  cuttings  ;  the  latter  is  the  best  and  most  rapid  mode  of 
propagation. 

Cuttings  of  the  young  shoots  grown,  or  even  two  years' 
old  wood,  if  taken  off  in  the  fall  (say  November)  will  root 
easily  the  following  spring. 

The  cuttings  should  be  cut  evenly  across  the  bottom  just 
below  a  leaf  bud.  Shoots  one  foot  in  length  having  three  or 
four  eyes  or  buds  planted  in  the  soil,  leaving  one  bud  only  ex- 
posed above  ground,  will  root  easily,  provided  the  operation  be 
skillfully  done. 

In  twelve  months  the  young  plants  will  be  well  rooted  and 
ready  for  transplanting  into  nursery  rows  2%  x  2%  feet  apart 
each  way.  This  distance  allows  of  their  being  cultivated  each 
way  the  same  as  corn. 

If  the  conditions  are  favorable  they  should  be  trees  three  or 
four  feet  high  and  large  enough  for  permanent  planting  the 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  13 

next  season,  when  they  should  be  planted  6 -a.  6  feet  each  way. 
This  will  allow  i,2io  trees  to  an  acre. 

As  soon  as  the  branches  begin  to  touch  each  other,  eveiy 
alternate  one  should  be  removed,  which  will  leave  the  re- 
mainder 12X12  feet  apart,  which  in  time  should  be  further  re- 
duced by  removing  every  alternate  tree,  leaving  the  remainder 
24  X  24  feet  apart  as  permanent  trees. 

This  method  of  culture  allows  the  trees  that  are  annually 
removed  to  be  stripped  of  their  foliage  without  permanent  in- 
jury, as  they  are  not  to  be  considered  as  permanent  trees.  Care 
should  be  taken,  however,  not  to  strip  the  foliage  of  the  ones 
intended  for  permanent  trees  before  they  are  sufficiently  strong 
to  bear  such  treatment. 

This  method  is  only  recommended  when  a  good  supply  of 
cuttings  are  to  be  had. 

In  India  and  China,  great  silk  growing  countries,  Mulberry 
trees  are  planted  and  cut  down  twice  yearly;  this  causes 
them  to  grow  thick  and  bushy,  and  facilitates  the  picking  of 
the  trees.  It  is  highly  recommended  that  hedges  be  planted 
of  Mulberry  around  the  grounds  of  the  farm.  This  renders 
picking  of  leaves  easy  for  children. 

In  this  country,  it  is  admitted  as  a  general  rule  that  all  soils 
adapted  to  the  culture  of  Indian  corn,  or  that  will  produce  ten 
bushels  to  the  acre,  are  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  the  mul- 
berry. 

As  to  SITUATION  or  SHELTER,  all  ..agree  that  nurseries  and 
plantations  should  have  a  sunny  exposure,  and  protection 
against  strong  cold  winds.  Declivities,  hill-sides,  land  sloping 
towards  the  east,  south-east,  or  south,  and  protected  on  the 
north  and  north-west  by  woods,  groves,  artificial  plantations, 
or  buildings,  are  situations  eligible  to  favor  and  sustain  the 
growth  of  the  mulberry. 

Any  land  that  is  suitable  for  raising  a  crop  of  corn  will  do 
for  cultivating  the  Mulberry.     A  dry,  warm,  sandy  loam  is 


14  Instruction  Book  in  the 

quite  congenial  to  its  nature.  A  cold,  damp,  or  heavy  soil, 
will  not  answer.  It  will  thrive  tolerably  well  on  poor  land, 
but  much  better  on  that  which  is  fertile.  Prepare  the  ground 
as  for  a  crop  of  corn,  and  at  the  same  season  furrow  it  into 
rows  3^  feet  asunder.  Then  scatter  well  rotted  manure  in 
the  furrows  two  inches  deep.  Trim  the  trees  of  every  limb, 
and  lay  them  in  the  furrows  so  that  they  will  just  reach  each 
other,  cover  them  up  about  as  deep  as  corn  is  usually  planted , 
except  the  roots,  which  should  be  buried  deeper.  Carefully 
preserve  all  the  limbs  and  plant  them  in  the  same  way.  Ten 
trees  are  often  thus  procured  from  one.  In  about  three  weeks, 
should  the  weather  prove  favorable,  sprouts  from  the  buried 
tree  will  break  through  the  ground.  After  which,  the  earth 
about  them  must  be  stirred  occasionally,  and  the  weeds  be 
kept  down  till  August,  Then  let  them  entirely  alone  that 
they  may  ripen,  and  the  wood  attain  solidity  before  the  coming 
of  the  autumn  frosts.  When  the  trees  have  done  growing  in 
the  fall,  pull  or  plough  them  up  and  cut  them  apart  with  a 
knife  or  pair  of  pruning  shears.  To  preserve  them  through 
the  winter,  lay  them  down  in  the  open  field  on  dry  ground — 
cover  them  with  sand  and  they  will  be  found  fresh  and  in  good 
order  the  next  spring.  Or  they  may  be  placed  in  a  cellar, 
with  the  roots  resting  on  the  ground,  with  some  dry  earth 
placed  about  them. 

If  your  object  is  to  grow  more  trees,  you  will,  the  ensuing 
.spring,  again  plant  accor,ding  to  the  directions  already  given. 
But  if  you  purpose  to  make  a  permanent  plantation,  you  will, 
after  ploughing  the  ground,  set  out  the  trees  in  rows  eight 
feet  apart,  and  standing  two  feet  from  each  other  in  the  rows. 
When  Winter  again  draws  near,  cut  off  the  trees  near  the 
ground,  and  preserve  the  trunk  and  limbs  for  further  increase. 
When  Spring  returns  the  roots  and  stumps  which  were  left  in 
the  ground  will  send  up  a  great  number  of  shoots,  which  will 
put  forth  a  quantity  of  foliage  that  will  be  truly  astonishing. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  15 

By  severing  the  tree  near  the  earth  several  advantages  are 
derived.  The  body  and  branches  are  thereby  saved  to  be 
again  planted.  The  tree  is  so  valuable  that  this  is  an  im- 
portant consideration.  The  quantity  of  leaves  which  will 
grow  on  the  sprouts  is  greater  than  could  have  been  obtained 
from  the  whole  tree  had  it  been  left  standing.  Leaves  cannot 
be  gathered  from  trees  of  much  heighth  without  reaching  or 
climbing  up  to  them  ;  but  they  may  be  plucked  from  shoots 
of  one  year's  growth  without  any  such  extra  exertion,  and  by 
children.  An  early  French  writer  on  the  subject  of  the  culti- 
vation of  the  Mulberry  tree  says  : — "  Let  trees  make  roots  the 
first  year  and  grow,  the  second  year  pick  carefully  and  trim. 
The  full  product  will  be  about  as  follows  : — Dwarf  trees,  four 
feet  apart  give  their  maxima  the  third  year  after  planting  ; 
eighteen  feet  apart  they  require  five  years  to  reach  their 
maxima ;  planted  twenty  feet  apart  the  maxima  is  attained  in 
ten  years.  These  trees  grow  to  a  great  age,  and  give  rich 
supplies  of  leaves  for  "even  hundreds  of  years,  after  good  culti- 
vation and  when  once  firmly  established.  Count  Gasparin 
recommends  planting  in  rows,  twelve  to  sixteen  feet  distant, 
the  trees  eight  feet  apart  from  each  other.  One  acre  of  Mul- 
berries in  full  perfection,  should  feed  80,000  to  100,000  worms, 
or  from  300  to  500  pounds  of  cocoons,  much  depending  on 
care,  climate  and  soil.  We  have  given  various  plans  to  guide 
the  planter,  and  would  suggest  that  each  agriculturist  add  to 
this  his  practical  experience  in  the  planting  of  other  hardy 
trees,  and  be  guided  much  by  his  past  experiences,  common 
sense  and  the  good  results  of  his  own  knowledge. 

To  Obtain  the  Seed. 

As  fast  as  the  fruit  ripens  it  should  be  gathered ;  otherwise 
it  will  fall  from  the  tree  and  be  lost  or  devoured  by  birds. 
When  a  portion  of  the  fruit  is  ripe,  spread  blankets  under  the 
trees  and  shake  them  gently  every  morning  during  the  ripen- 


16  Instruction  Book  in  the 


ing  season.  By  this  means  the  ripe  berries  are  disengaged 
from  the  boughs,  and  falling  on  the  blankets,  are  easily  gath- 
ered, whilst  those  that  are  unripe  remain  undisturbed. 

One  ounce  of  seed  properly  sown  will  give  about  5,000 
young  trees.  From  a  single  pound  of  seed,  one  hundred  thou- 
sand plants  may  be  reasonably  expected.  There  are  in  one 
pound  avoirdupois  of  white  mulberry  seed,  about  322,700 
seeds.  This  therefore  allows  one  seed  nearly  out  of  every 
three  to  vegetate.  From  9,600  to  10,000  seeds  weigh  about 
one  ounce  of  Bavarian  weight ;  and  at  least  300,000  seeds  may, 
on  the  average,  be  considered  to  the  pound. 

Time  of  Sowing, 

From  the  first  of  April  to  the  beginning  of  May,  or  even,  in 
favorable  situations,  should  circumstances  require  it,  so  late  as 
the  beginning  of  yiine.  But  it  should  be  remembered  that  the 
earlier  the  spring  sowing,  the  more  strength,  firmness,  and 
bark  the  seedling  will  acquire  to  resist  the  attacks  of  its  first 
winter,  which  will  be  the  most  critical  period  in  the  history  of 
the  young  plant. 

Manner  of  Sowing. 

The  seed  may  be  sown  in  seed-beds  or  nurseries,  as  best 
suits  the  convenience  of  the  cultivator.  When  land  is  no 
object,  it  will  be  best  to  sow  them  in  the  nursery,  as  it  will 
save  the  labor  of  once  transplanting.  Every  cultivator  knows 
the  fertilizing  effects  of  frost  and  snow,  and  consequently  ought 
to  avail  himself  of  them  at  the  proper  season.  Dig  or  plough 
the  preceding  autumn,  and  leave  the  ground  rough  and  ex- 
posed {o  the  pulverizing  action  of  frost  and  thaw  all  winter. 
The  ground  should  also  be  ploughed  again  in  the  spring;  two 
or  three  times,  if  necessary  to  render  it  light  and  friable.  Two 
or  three  dressings  of  manure  well  ploughed  in,  will  be  of  es- 
sential service.     The  seed  may  be  sown  in  drills,  at  sufficient 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  17 


distances  asunder  to  admit  of  passing  between  them  for  the  pur- 
pose of  weeding  and  hoeing.  Roll  the  seed  in  plaster  of 
Paris,  or  mix  with  mould,  then  sow  it  tolerably  thick,  as  in 
the  sowing  of  onions  or  carrots. 

Subsequent  Culture  of  the  Seed-beds  and  Seedlings. 

Should  the  weather  be  dry,  water  the  seed-beds  every  other 
evening.  The  ground  must  be  stirred  occasionally,  or  the 
soil  lightened  between  the  drills,  and  the  beds  at  all  times  kept 
clean  of  weeds. 

On  the  near  approach  of  winter,  or  on  the  first  appearance 
of  what  is  commonly  called  black  frost,  cover  the  plant-beds 
with  long  stable  manure,  leaves,  straw,  or  matting,  and  confine 
the  covering  with  twigs  of  pine  or  evergreen,  until  the  middle 
of  the  ensuing  April. 

Transplanting  does  not  appear  always  to  take  place  so  early 
in  France  as  with  us  ;  nevertheless,  part  of  their  practice  seems 
worthy  of  our  attention.  The  plants  will  soon  show  them- 
selves, when  they  must  be  thinned,  if  growing  too  thick,  put- 
ting them  as  near  as  possible  two  or  three  inches  apart.  After 
having  let  them  come  to  the  size  of  a  goose-quill,  it  will  be 
necessary,  for  at  least  three  years,  counting  that  in  which  they 
are  sown,  to  tend  them  during  the  whole  time  in  the  following 
manner  :  At  their  first  appearance,  they  should  be  thinned  ; 
the  second  year,  they  are  to  be  pruned  of  all  the  small 
branches  up  to  a  foot  from  the  ground  ;  from  time  to  time  they 
must  be  watered;  they  must  also  be  thoroughly  weeded. 
There  are  Two  Seasons  for  making  nurseries,  the  Spring,  and 
the  time  of  the  maturity  af  the  fruit.  Those  who  choose  to 
sow  the  seed  of  the  mulberry  in  the  month  of  Apiil,  must  con- 
sequently use  the  dried  seed  gathered  nine  months  before,  and 
less  liable  to  sprout.  But  those  who  sow  the  fruit  at  its  ma- 
turity, enveloped  with  all  its  moisture  (or  pulp),  which  seems 
intended  for  its  nourishment,  and  to  give  it,  if  we  may  use  the 

2 


18  Instruction  Book  in  the 

expression,  its  first  milk,  have  generally  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
it  put  forth  with  vigor.  Besides,  the  heat  of  the  season,  pro- 
vided the  proprietor  use  the  precaution  to  water  the  plants, 
will  necessarily  cause  their  rapid  growth. 

Sowing  Broadcast. 

This  method  is  extensively  and  usefully  practised  in  China; 
and  has  also  been  tried  with  success  and  profit  in  New  Eng- 
land many  years  ago.  Though  culturists  generally  prefer  the 
crops  of  standard  trees  or  hedges,  and  the  recent  introduction 
of  the  Multicaulis  may  render  this  process  less  necessary,  yet 
conditions  may  exist  wherein  for  special  purposes  it  may  be 
expedient. 

On  ground  previously  prepared,  sow  the  seed  broadcast 
every  spring  ;  and  the  next  year,  when  the  young  plants  are 
covered  with  foliage,  they  may  be  mowed  in  the  same  manner 
that  farmers  mow  small  shrubs,  and  given  to  the  worms. 
These  mowings  may  be  repeated  until  the  stock  becomes  ex- 
hausted, when  the  land  must  be  seeded  again.  During  one 
season,  the  same  seedling  will  bear  to  be  mown  thrice  ;  and 
on  different  portions  of  the  ground,  the  mowing  may  be  daily 
continued  according  to  the  demand  for  the  crop,  except  after 
very  dry  weather. 

The  advantages  of  this  method  are,  i.  The  leaves  are 
gathered  with  little  expense  or  labor.  2.  The  same  area  of 
ground  will  produce  more  foliage.  3.  The  making  of  silk 
may  thus  be  commenced  on  the  first  year.  4.  Tenants,  as 
well  as  owners,  from  year  to  year,  can  secure  a  yearly  crop  of 
silk ;  and  the  quantity  can  be  increased  or  diminished  as  oc- 
casion requires. 

Transplanting. 

On  this  subject,  authors  do  not  precisely  agree,  and  are 
generally  wanting  in  that  method  which  will  be  found  neces- 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  19 

sary  in  this  place.  For  the  sake  of  distinction,  we  shall  divide 
this  section  into  what. refers,  i.  To  the  seed-bed:  2.  To  the 
nursety :  3.  To  theiiedge :  4.  To  the  dwarf  orchard :  5.  To  the 
hedge  plantation:  and  6.   To  the  plantation  for  standards. 

The  Seed-bed. 

1.  By  the  Seed-bed  we  mean  that  on  which  not  only  the 
young  seedlings,  or  plants  from  seeds  are  growing,  but  where 
they  have  suffered  no  transplanting  nor  other  disturbance, 
except  that  of  being  kept  clear  from  weeds.  From  the  seed- 
bed, according  to  the  time  and  manner  hereafter  to  be  stated, 
the  seedlings  are  to  be  transplanted  either  to  the  nursery,  the 
hedge,  the  dwarf-orchard,  or  to  the  plantation  for  standards, 
according  to  the  intention  of  the  culturist.  Seedlings  are  fit 
for  transplanting  when  they  attain  the  height  of  eighteen 
inches  ;  and  generally,'on  the  second  year,  those  not  removed 
before  may  be  transplanted  in  the  nursery.  But  if  they  are 
thrifty,  they  may  remain  in  the  seed-bed  until  planted  out 
into  hedges. 

The  Nursery. 

2.  In  France,  seedlings  are  transplanted  into  The  Nursery, 
just  after  the  fall  of  the  leaf.  With  us,  in  April,  or  later  if 
there  be  a  probability  of  the  return  of  frost,  parallel  furrows 
are  to  be  made  of  sufficient  depth,  eight  feet  asunder.  In 
which,  as  soon  as  possible  after  removing  from  the  seed-bed 
and  taking  away  the  ragged  roots  as  well  as  shortening  the 
top-root  in  order  to  force  out  lateral  roots,  the  seedlings  must 
be  planted  one  foot  apart  in  the  rows.  When  the  plants  in  the 
nursery  are  sprung,  strip  off  the  side-buds  and  leave  none  but 
such  as  are  necessary  to  form  the  head  of  trees.  The  buds 
which  are  left  should  be  opposite  to  one  another. 

The  Hedge. 

3.  Mulberry  Hedge. — One  method  of  turning  into  direct 


20  Instruction  Book  in  the 

profit  and  economizing  the  very  ground  on  which  our  fences 
stand,  is  to  turn  them  into  mulberry  hedges.  The  White 
Mulberry  forms  an  excellent  live  fence,  and  when  once  estab- 
h'shed  is  more  permanent  than  any  other.  Cattle  must  not  be 
allowed  free  access  to  the  hedge  while  young,  as  they  would 
destroy  it  altogether ;  but  after  it  has  become  a  good  fence, 
they  ma/ approach  it  with  advantage.  The  more  it  is  broken 
and  lacerated  by  cattle,  the  more  impenetrable  it  will  become  ; 
as,  for  every  branch  broken,  a  half  dozen  shoots  will  im- 
mediately .start  out,  till  the  bush  forms  a  perfect  bramble. 
This  mode  is,  therefore,  recommended  as  accomplishing  three 
important  objects  :  supplying  food  for  silkworms ;  keeping 
the  trees  low,  that  the  leaves  may  be  gathered  from  the 
ground  by  children  ;  and  furnishing  a  good  and  almost  never- 
ending  fence. 

Take  seedlings  two  years  old  from  the  seed-bed,  and  set 
them,  in  the  spring,  at  the  distance  of  eighteen  inches  apart,  or, 
if  it  is  intended  to  make  a  thick-set  hedge,  at  the  distance  of 
one  foot.  Cut  off  the  tops  at  four  or  six  inches  from  the 
ground,  leaving  two  buds  on  each  plant  opposite  each  other, 
and  removing  all  the  rest.  This  causes  the  stock  to  have  two 
vigorous  branches  the  first  year. 

To  plant  the  Mulberry  successfully  in  hedge-rows,  the  plant 
should  not  be  allowed  to  rise  higher  than  seven  or  eight  feet. 
But  a  few  years  are  suffiicient  to  raise  considerable  fields  of 
them  in  full  vigor,  sufficient  to  support  an  immense  number 
of  silkworms  ;  and  regular  plantations  can  be  formed,  by  plant- 
ing the  trees  at  the  distance  of  from  six  to  eight  feet  asunder  ; 
or  in  rows  of  eight  or  ten  feet  asunder,  and  the  trees  at  three 
or  four  feet  distance  in  the  row ;  a  space  sufficient  for  the  ex- 
tension of  the  branches,  sufficient  also  for  cultivation,  and  for 
the  greater  convenience  of  gathering  the  leaves.  So  greatly 
is  this  last  operation  facilitated  by  the  flexibility  of  the  stalks 
and  the  superior  size  of  the  leaf,  that,  as  we  are  assured  by  M. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  21 


Perrottet,  a  child  is  sufficient  for  gathering  the  food  for  a  large 
establishment  of  silkworms. 

The  Dwarf  Orchard. 

4.  The  Dwarf  Orchard. — The  dwarf  orchard,  consists  either 
of  the  dwarf  or  bush  Mulberry  so  common  in  France  ;  or  of 
any  mulberry  species  or  variety  kept  in  hedge-size  and  culti- 
vation. It  is  in  the  East  Indies  preferred  to  the  tree  with  a 
high  trunk  because  its  leaves  are  more  easily  gathered  ;  the 
trimming  less  difficult  and  less  expensive  ;  and  the  sap,  having 
a  shorter  distance  to  rise,  produces  earlier  leaves  and  pro- 
portionately in  greater  abundance.  The  tree  with  a  lofty 
trunk  must  have  a  good  soil  and  ample  room,  whilst  dwarf 
trees  will  grow  anywhere,  on  arid  soil  and  small  spaces. 

The  field  selected  for  an  orchard  of  the  dwarf  mulberry 
ought  to  be  ploughed,  and  after  remaining  in  the  furrow  about 
two  months,  to  be  manured  and  cross-plowed,  and  lastly 
leveled  with  a  harrow.  Lines  must  then  be  drawn  nine  feet 
apart,  through  the  whole  length  of  the  field,  and  the  young 
trees  must  be  planted  along  those  lines,  at  the  distance  oi six 
feet  from  each  other.  After  the  gathering  of  the  leaves  in  the 
third  year,  the  dwarf  mulberry  may  be  trimmed,  but  not  be- 
fore. This  trimming  among  the  French  consists  in  lopping  off 
the  bj'anches  that  have  yielded  leaves  during  three  years,  and 
reserving  the  wood  of  the  preceding  and  of  the  current  years. 
The  trees  thus  arrive  at  a  state  of  productiveness  with  compa- 
ratively little  expense  of  time  and  labor.  It  has  been  recom- 
mended to  have  the  rows  of  the  dwarf  orchard  sufficiently  dis- 
tant to  allow  a  horse  and  cart  to  pass  between,  to  convey, 
during  the  gathering,  the  leaves  with  the  greater  expedition 
to  the  cocoonery.  The  objection  to  this  is  that  the  pressure 
of  the  horse  and  cart  on  the  intervening  space  might  be  such 
as  to  injure  the  vegetation  of  the  trees.  To  avoid  this,  it  is 
recommended  that  the  leaves  should  be  gathered  into  large 


Instruction  Book  in  the 


baskets  and  conveyed  to  a  cart  conveniently  situated  ;  or 
rather,  that  light  hand-carts  propelled  by  men  should  be  sub- 
stituted. 

The  young  trees  are  to  be  headed  to  about  a  foot  from  the 
ground,  and  but  two  or  three  branches  allowed  to  grow.  The 
intervening  ground  may  be  cultivated  with  various  other  pro- 
ductions, especially  during  the  first  years.  Indeed,  it  has 
been  recommended  by  some  to  give  to  the  ground  applied  to 
dwarf  orchards  or  hedge  plantations  the  benefit  of  meliorating 
crops,  because  the  soil,  according  to  this  opinion,  becomes 
improved,  and  the  intervening  crops  defray  all  expenses  in 
the  culture  of  the  Mulberry.  Potatoes  should  be  between  the 
rows,  well  manured  ;  so  that  the  whole  ground  may  be  rich 
like  a  garden. 

The  Hedge  Plantation. 

The  Hedge  Plantation  consists  of  a  piece  of  ground,  not 
only  fenced  in,  but  its  whole  interior  planted  with  mulberries 
in  regular  rows  at  certain  distances  kept  in  hedge  culture. 
It  was  formerly  the  practice  in  France  to  plant  out  mulberries 
as  standards,  and  suffer  them  to  attain  considerable  size ;  for 
which  gathering-ladders  and  additional  labor  were  indispensa- 
ble. The  practice  is,  of  late,  much  changed.  It  was  observed 
that  the  young  plants  in  nurseries  put  forth  their  leaves  much 
sooner  than  the  standard  trees.  Of  hedge  plantations  there  are 
two  plans.  In  the  first,  young  trees  of  one  year's  growth  are 
used.  The  hedges  are  planted  in  lines,  extending  the  whole 
length  of  the  field,  these  lines  separated  from  each  other  by  a 
space  oi  six  or  eight  feet.  Each  tree  is  planted  at  the  distance 
of  three  feet  from  the  next  in  the  same  row.  So  that  in  the 
space  of  an  acre  or  4^3,560  square  feet,  we  shall  have  2,/f.20  trees. 
They  will  yield,  in  their  third  year,  about  two  pounds  of  leaves 
each  {or  4,840  pounds  for  the  acre) ;  and  this  quantity  will  be 
doubled  annually  until  the  eighth  year,  provided  they  are 
managed  as  required. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


The  above  statement  leads  to  the  following  statistical  con- 
sequence :  the  trees  on  one  acre  for  the 

3rd  year  yield,      4,840  lbs.  of  leaves. 
4th     "         •'  9,680 

5th     "        "  19,360 

6th  "  "  38,720 
7th  "  "  77.440 
8th  "  "  154,880 
Which,  in  this  case,  on  the  eighth  year,  would  be  equal  to 
1,548  pounds  of  silk,  worth  ^7,740.  One  hundred  pounds  of 
leaves  of  the  White  Mulberry  are  reckoned  to  be  equal  to  one 
pound  of  raw  silk,  now  worth  at  least  five  dollars. 

The  second  plan  of  the  hedge  plantation  requires  that  at  two 
years  old  the  trees  should  be  planted  out  into   hedges   at 
eighteen  inches  apart,  in  rows  eight  feet  asunder.     The  ground 
should  be  prepared  as  before   directed,  and  some  good  rich 
mould  put  into  the  holes,  to  be  afterwards  pressed  around  the 
plants.     The  hedges  should  never  be  permitted  to  grow  higher 
than  six  feet,  so  as  to  keep  them  within  a  convenient  height 
for  gathering  the  leaves.     After  the  leaves  have  been  gathered, 
they  should  be  pruned  ,    and,  particularly,  of  such  branches 
as  may  have  been  injured  or  killed.     All  dead  branches,  also, 
thus  found  in  the  beginning  of  April,  must  be  pruned  from 
the  living  wood  with  sharp  hedge-sheers,  and  these  prunnings 
should  be  so  regulated  as  to  give  a  proper  form  to  the  hedge. 
The  planting  oi  Morns  Alba  in  the  hedge  form  will  be  found 
to  be  the  most  advantageous.     The  same  quantity  of  land  will 
thus  produce  at  least  eighty  per  cent,  more  leaves  than  from 
standard  trees  ;  and  the  labor  of  gathering  leaves  is  full   one 
half  less,  and  the  vegetation  is  much  quicker.     A  few  standard 
trees,  or  a  plantation  of  standards,  should  be  kept  on  every 
estate  (particularly  when  situated  in  the  interior),  for  the  pur- 
pose of  deeping  up  regular  supplies  of  seed,  and  of  making 
that  of  leaves  doubly  secure. 


24  Instruction  Book  in  the 


Plantation   for  Standards. 

Plantation  for  Standards  is  a  piece  of  ground,  on  which,  at 
proper  distances,  mulberry  trees  designed  to  arrive  at  (or  that 
have  attained  to)  full  growth  are  planted.  ,The  distances 
generall)'-  recommended  for  this  purpose  are  iweiity  feet  behveen 
the  rozvs,  and  twenty  feet  asunder  ;  i.  e.  twenty. feet  every  way. 

Pruning. 

Trees  left  to  themselves  are  liable  to  assume  forms  as  un- 
suitable to  the  taste  of  the  horticulturist  as  inconvenient  to 
those  engaged  in  the  gathering  of  their  leaves.  June  is  the 
best  seasoji  for  pruning,  v^\\&x\\}c\&yQ)\xi\^^  twigs  that  are  taken 
off  may  be,  with  advantage,  given  to  the  worms  But  after 
what  has  been  already  said,  it  is  here  only  necessary  to  add 
that  the  imperfections  in  the  form  and  growth  of  trees  may 
easily  be  remedied  by  a  judicious  cultivator  at  least  once  every 
two  or  three  years. 

Suckers. 

Trees  may  also  be  obtained  from  suckers.  These,  each 
with  some  roots  attached  to  them,  may  be  separated  from  the 
tree  early  in  the  spring,  planted  in  the  nursery  or  orchard, 
two  feet  apart,  where  they  may  remain  until  their  size  intimates 
the  propriety  of  transplanting.  They  must  be  treated  as  seed- 
lings or  cuttings  ;  watered  in  dry  weather,  and  kept  clear  of 
woods. 

Cultivation  of  the  Multicaulis. 

Cultivation  by  Cuttings  and  by  Layers  is  divisible  into 
four  methods,  of  which  two  refer  to  cuttings,  and  two  to  the 
method  by  Layers. 

L — Cuttings:  Methodist.  By  previous  fonvarding  of  the 
budding  or  vegetating  process  in  frames  or  under  glass.     Let 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  2S 

there  be  prepared,  before  the  month  of  March,  frames  or  boxes 
of  convenient  lengths,  and  sufficient  in  number  to  contain  the 
cuttings  on  hand.  Let  the  depth  of  the  front  of  these  frames 
or  boxes  be  about  eighteen  inches,  that  of  the  back  two  feet ; 
and  width  two  feet  and  a  half  If  these  be  boxes  having  bot- 
toms, they  must  be  perforated,  to  allow  of  a  constant  commu- 
nication (on  account  of  the  draining  off  or  admission  of  mois- 
ture) with  the  external  soil.  To  these,  glass-frame  tops  open- 
ing by  hinges  should  be  provided. 

Prepare  also  a  mixture  composed  of  rather  more  than  one- 
half,  or  nearly  two-thirds  of  zvell-rotted  stable  or  other  manure 
(it  has  been  said  that  all  fresh  manure  is  poison  to  the  mul- 
berry), and  the  rest  of  a  light,  dry  mojdd,  sufficient  in  quantity 
to  fill  the  frames  to  the  depth  of  from  twelve  to  fourteen  inches. 
Place  these  on  the  ground  where  they  are  intended  to  remain, 
in  a  position  facing  the  sun.  The  trees  intended  for  this  use, 
cut  into  pieces  of  two,  or  two  and  a  half  inches,  or  always  of 
such  lengths  as  to  have  each  at  least  one  bud,  which  should 
be  near  the  end.  In  the  frames  or  boxes  containing  the  mix- 
ture already  described,  about  the  first  of  March,  stick  these 
cuttings,  with  the  bud  always  uppermost  and  turned  towards 
the  south,  but  the  whole  cutting  inclined  with  its  head  towards 
the  north,  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees.  Place  them 
in  rows  about  half  an  inch  asunder,  and  at  about  the  same  dis- 
tance in  each  row;  or  in  such  wise  that  the  one  shall  not 
touch  the  other.  Press  the  earth  around  them  with  the  finger 
and  thumb,  covering  over  the  bud  about  the  fourth  of  an  inch. 
On  mild,  warm  days,  open  the  glass  tops  to  admit  air  ;  but  on 
the  approach  of  frost,  especially  at  night,  close  the  glasses  and 
cover  with  matting  or  other  protection.  Or  rather  cover  with 
mattings  every  evening  before  sunset,  and  keep  them  on  next 
day  until  the  sun  has  attained  considerable  power.  To  pre- 
vent the  escape  of  the  heat  of  the  bed  from  the  sides,  let  a  few 
inches  of   horse  manure    be  placed  around    them.     Two  or 


26  Instruction  Book  in  the 

three  times  a  week,  just  before  putting  on  the  matting  for 
the  evening,  let  the  bed  be  gently  watered  with  water  that 
has  been  previously  exposed  for  a  day  or  two  to  the  sun. 
And  when  the  plants  come  up  and  begin  to  put  forth  leaves, 
some  plaster  of  Paris  should  be  sprinkled  over  them.  From 
the  first  to  the  middle  of  May,  the  plants  will  be  from  four  to 
eight  inches  high,  and  may  then  be  transplanted  to  the  place 
where  they  are  intended  to  grow.  For  this  purpose,  on 
ground  previously  prepared  as  already  directed,  with  the 
plough  describe  parallel  rows,  three  feet  asunder,  on  each  of 
which  let  holes  for  the  reception  of  the  plants  be  made  one 
foot  apart.  With  a  transplanting  trowel,  if  possible  soon  after 
a  rain,  take  the  plants  up  carefully  with  as  much  earth  as  pos- 
sible attached  to  the  roots.  Insert  these  in  the  cavities  pre- 
pared, draw  the  earth  around,  press  about  them  with  the  finger 
and  thumb.  Water  them  for  two  weeks  daily,  especially  if  the 
weather  be  dry ;  or  until  the  plants  give  evidence  of  having 
freely  commenced  drawing  their  sustenance  from  the  soil.  If 
the  whole  of  this  be  attended  to,  very  general  success  will  be 
the  consequence  ;  and  the  plants  will  grow,  during  the  season, 
from  four  to  six  feet,  and  will  ripen  their  wood  so  that  the  en- 
suing winter  will  not  injure  them. 

Method  2nd.  By  open  cultivation  without  previous  budding. 
It  is  strongly  asserted  by  some  that  two  buds  instead  of  one 
are  necessary  on  each  cutting  whenever  planted  in  open  cul- 
ture. For  this,  let  the  ground  be  previously  prepared  with 
well-rotted  barn-yard  or  other  stable  manure ;  or,  in  want  of 
it,  with  a  mixture  of  ashes  with  fine  mould,  in  the  proportion 
of  150  bushels  of  the  former  to  four  loads  of  the  latter  to  the 
acre.  Having  plenty  of  this  or  other  suitable  compost,  manure 
broadcast,  otherwise  in  the  furrow,  or  even  in  the  dibble,  as  is 
sometimes  done  for  corn.  After  ploughing  and  harrowing, 
strike  off  furrows  north  and  south,  three  feet  asunder,  in  which, 
one  foot  apart,  and  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  the  heads 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  27 


pointed  to  the  north,  place,  about  the  last  week  of  Apfil,  the 
cuttings,  one  inch  under  the  earth,  with  the  upper  bud  facing 
the  south.  Draw  the  earth  aroun^d  the  cutting,  so  as  to  cover 
the  bud  about  one  quarter  of  an  inch  and  press  the  earth 
tightly  around  it.  Water  them  for  a  few  days  if  there  be  no 
rain.  As  the  sprouts  appear,  let  the  hoe  draw  some  mould 
carefully  round  them  so  as  to  give  the  roots  depth  of  soil  for 
their  nutriment.  Let  the  weeds  be  kept  down,  and  the  ground 
kept  frequently  turned  over  and  fresh  ;  and  a  good  crop  of 
trees  may  be  insured. 

Layers, 

Method  3rd.  Layering  by  the  whole  tree,  without  branches. 
Trees  are  layered  either  by  the  whole  tree,  or  by  first  taking 
off  the  lateral  branches  and  then  layering  each  separately  ;  the 
latter  plan  is  preferable,  since  it  allows  sufficient  room  for  the 
young  shoots  to  grow.  For  this  purpose,  let  the  ground  be 
duly  prepared  and  pulverized  by  ploughing,  harrowing,  and 
if  necessary  rolling ;  and  manure,  at  least  in  the  drill,  with  the 
compost  already  mentioned  or  slaked  ashes.  About  the  last 
week  of  Apnl,  run  a  plough  or  cultivator  through  the  land,  as 
if  for  corn,  in  parallel  lines  three  feet  asunder;  and  let  each 
furrow  be  three  inches  deep.  One  person  lays  the  tree  in  a 
horizontal  position  in  this  furrow  ;  the  root  of  one  plant  being 
placed  at  the  top  of  the  one  preceding  it ;  and  proceeds  thus 
to  the  end  of  the  line.  Another  follows  him  with  a  hoe,  and 
draws  the  earth  over  the  prostrate  plant,  covering  it  with 
mould  to  the  depth  of  from  one  to  two  inches ;  though  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  bury  it  too  deep. 

Method  4th.  Layeri7ig  by  sections  deserves  the  attention  of 
culturists.  Cut  the  tree  into  pieces  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
inches;  and  having  prepared  the  soil  at  the  same  season  as 
already  directed,  place  these  sections  in  the  plough-trace  in 
such  a  manner  that  there  will  be  a  piece  of  the  plant  alternat- 


28  Instruction  Book  in  the 

ing  with  a  space  of  equal  length  intervening  between  it  and 
the  next  section.  The  intention  of  this  is  to  admit  more 
freely  the  sun  and  air  between  the  plants,  and  also  to  favor 
the  growth  of  the  offshoots  or  branches  ;  for  these,  by  the  last 
method,  will  be,  from  the  closeness  of  the  trees,  few  compared 
with  the  number  of  buds  which  otherwise  would  produce  a 
plant. 

The  Osage  Orange. 

The  Madura,  or  Osage  Orange,  affords  a  good  substi- 
tute for  the  mulberry,  and  will  make  excellent  cocoons. 
This  is  a  spreading,  deciduous  tree,  and  at  maturity  is  from 
twenty  to  thirty  feet  high,  with  a  yellow  axillary  berry  the  size 
of  an  orange,  but  not  so  succulent,  though  said  to  be  agree- 
able when  fully  ripe.  It  was  originally  found  on  the  banks  of 
the  Little  Missouri  or  Washita  river  ;  also  on  those  of  the 
Red  river  in  Louisiana,  and  of  the  Arkansas  river.  It  is  rapidly 
spreading  over  the  Southwest ;  and  is  a  valuable  tree  for 
hedges  as  well  as  for  ornamental  variety.  It  begins  to  find  a 
place  in  our  nurseries,  and  will  soon  be  generally  known  on 
account  of  its  beauty. 

The  Association  has  had  ribbon  of  good  quality  made  from 
pure  Osage  Orange  silk.  The  worms  feed  freely  and  con- 
tinue healthy,  and  little  difference  exists  between  the  silk  of 
the  Osage  Orange  and  Mulberry.  Yet  the  Association  re- 
commend, where  food  must  be  planted,  and  where  families 
intend  to  go  into  silk  culture  in  good  earnest,  that  the  time- 
honored  Mulberry  should  be  planted. 

State  of  Leaves  proper  for  Feeding. 

Notwithstanding  that  all  silk-growers  who  have  favored  us 
with  the  result  of  their  experience  have  recommended  the 
feeding  with  dry  leaves,  or  leaves  free  from  both  dew  and  rain, 
two  articles  appeared  in  the  September  number  of  the  Silk 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  29 

CulUirist  of  1837  affirming  that  leaves  wet  with  either  were 
innoxious  to  the  insect  and  not  prejudical  to  the  cocoon. 
Nothing,  however,  can  be  more  contrary  to  the  advice  generally- 
given.  The  preservation  of  the  health  of  silkworms  depends 
essentially  on  the  leaves  being  perfectly  dry  when  given  to 
them.  Wet  leaves  invariably  produce  a  diarrhaea.  The  worst 
leaf  that  can  be  given  to  the  silkworm,  and  which  always 
injures  it,  is  that  which  is  covered  with  what  is  termed  manna, 
arising  from  a  diseased  state  of  the  tree.  The  blighted  or  rust- 
spotted  leaves  do  not  injure.  The  worm  will  eat  this  leaf, 
carefully  avoiding  the  spots.  If  the  culled  leaves  are  properly 
preserved  from  heating,  moulding,  etc.,  what  is  called  wilting 
will  not  hurt  them. 

Feeding  by  the  green  leaf . — Let  a  mulberry  hedge  be  pro- 
vided in  a  warm  situation  having  a  southern  exposure,  and  on 
the  north  "and  north-west  well  protected  by  buildings,  planta- 
tions, or  woods.  As  the  worm  in  their  first  age  consume  but 
little,  a  garden-border  will  afford  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 
Or,  we  may  sow  the  seed  broadcast  or  in  drills  in  a  forcing 
border  or  hot-bed  to  meet  the  first  wants  of  the  insect;  and 
to  be  provided  in  the  event  of  some  temporary  disappoint- 
ment. 

Feeding  by  leaf  pozvder. — Leaves  for  this  purpose  may  be 
taken  from  the  tree  towards  the  close  of  summer,  and  dried 
so  effectually  as  to  admit  of  being  reduced  to  a  fine  powder, 
and  afterwards  preserved  during  the  winter.  In  the  spring, 
after  gently  sprinkling  with  water  as  much  of  this  powder  as 
may  be  wanted,  allow  it  slightly  to  macerate  or  acquire  general 
moisture  ;  when  given  to  the  early  hatch,  they  will  be  found 
to  attack  this  powder  with  an  avidity  not  perceptibly  differing 
from  that  with  which  it  would  consume  the  early  leaf 

During  the  experiments  of  the  past,  when  silk  culture 
became  a  speculation  and  consequently  a  failure,  a  farmer 
in    a    vicinity    not   far    from    Mansfield,    Connecticut,    pur- 


30  Instruction  Book  in  the 

chased  a  farm  on  which  were  standing  twelve  mulberry 
trees  of  full  growth.  Knowing  nothing  of  the  business 
of  making  silk,  he  supposed  them  to  be  of  no  more  than 
the  ordinary  value  of  forest  trees  for  fuel.  A  neighbor, 
however,  soon  called  upon  him  and  agreed  to  pay  him 
twelve  dollars  annually  for  the  privilege  of  picking  the 
leaves.  The  farmer,  to  his  astonishment,  found  that  the 
twelve  mulberry  trees  were  as  good  to  him  as  $200  at  six  per 
cent,  interest.  And  we  advocate  the  system  of  a  Mulberry 
Leaf  Market,  as  being  especially  beneficial  to  citizens  in 
moderate  circumstances  without  land.  It  is  particularly  under- 
stood, however,  that  the  leaves  at  the  tip  end  of  every  twig  are 
always  to  be  preserved,  to  draw  the  sap  and  preserve  the  life 
and  vigor  of  the  tree.  There  are  few  farms  in  this  country 
that  could  not  be  four-folded  in  value  by  adopting  the  plan  of 
letting  out  trees.  The  children  of  poor  families  might  be 
profitably  employed  in  picking  the  leaves  instead  of  running 
about  the  streets  contracting  habits  of  vice. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  personal  experience  of 
those  who  raised  large  quantities  of  trees  and  worms  in  the 
year  1838  may  be  useful  to  those  contemplating  : 

Important  to  Silk-Growers. 

"  It  gives  us  much  pleasure  to  communicate  to  our  patrons 
"and  the  silk-growing  public,  the  results  of  some  experiments 
"  that  we  have  made  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Chinese  Mul- 
"  berry,  considered  by  us  of  the  first  consequence.  We  have 
"  heretofore  recommended,  and  now  earnestly  repeat  the 
"  advice  then  given,  that  permanent  plantations  of  Mulberries 
"  should  be  managed  according  to  the  directions  given  in  the 
"  leading  article  of  our  first  number,  viz.  :  to  sever  the  trees 
"  near  the  ground  late  in  the  fall,  and  feed  the  worms  with  the 
"  foliage  which  will  spring  from  the  stumps  and  roots  left  in 
"  the  ground  the  next  season.     We  have  cultivated  the  tree 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  SI 

"  in  this  way,  and  can  assure  our  subscribers,  that  it  is  at- 
"  tended  with  great  conveniences  and  advantages,  as  it  in- 
"  creases  the  quantity  of  leaves,  and  facilitates  their  gathering. 
"We  have  about  looo  roots  which  have  been  cultivated  in 
"  this  manner,  and  they  have  prospered  equal  to  our  wishes, 
"  and  more  than  fulfilled  every  expectation.  The  shoots  are 
"  now  five  and  six  feet  in  height,  bearing  numerous  large 
"  leaves,  and  the  whole  ground  is  nearly  covered  with  their 
"  rich  vegetation.  Six,  eight  and  ten  sprouts  generally  pro- 
"  ceed  from  one  stump,  which  will  rise  ten  feet  in  height  in 
"  one  Summer.  By  the  middle  of  June  the  leaves  will  be 
"  large  and  sufficiently  abundant  to  feed  worms  to  advantage, 
"  and  one  man  may,  by  passing  along  the  rows  with  a  sharp 
"  knife,  cut  off  the  sprouts  near  the  earth,  throw  them  into  a 
"  cart,  and  thus  collect  food  enough  to  supply  a  million  of 
"  worms.  In  another  month  there  will  be  leaves  sufficient  to 
"  feed  another  crop  of  worms,  thus  doubling  the  profits  of  the 
"  business,  at  a  trifling  increase  of  expenditure.  We  are  not 
"  theorising,  but  stating  what  we  have  proved  by  our  own  ex- 
"  periments.  This  mode  of  culture  almost  demolishes  the 
"  whole  expense  of  collecting  leaves,  and  increases  the  food 
"  for  the  worms  .500  per  cent,  above  what  can  be  obtained 
"  from  the  cultivation  of  the  White  Mulberry.  But  few  of  the 
"American  people  have  engaged  in  silk  operations,  and  of  those 
"  few,  probably  not  one  half  of  them,  have  known  anything  of 
"  it,  until  the  five  last  years:  But  small  as  their  number  is, 
"  they  have  effected  greater  improvements  in  the  business  than 
".all  the  Silk-growers  of  Europe  have  achieved  in  a  century, 
"  and  if  we  do  not  supply  England  with  raw  silk  within  twenty 
"  years,  cheaper  than  she  can  obtain  it  elsewhere,  it  will  be 
"  because  there  will  be  no  country  called  America — no  people 
"  denominated  Yankees." 

The  prediction  here  has  been  more  than  verified,  American 
manufactured  sewing  silks  being  now  exported  to  every  part 


82  Instruction  Book  in  the 

of  the  world;  but  the  raw  material  is  still  imported.  This 
should  not  be,  with  our  broad  acres.  The  Association  for 
this  cause  urge  the  cultivation  of  all  the  Silk  needed  in  the  im- 
mense factories  that  are  now  rising  all  over  our  land. 


THE  REARING  OF  THE  SILKWORM. 

The  worm  commonly  employed  in  the  production  of  silk 
is  called  the  Silk  Worm  of  Four  Moidtings,  of  which  there  are 
two  varieties.  I,  Those  that  form  a  straw-colored  cocoon  ;  and 
2.  Those  that  produce  the  deep  yellow  cocoon.  The  prefer- 
ence is  given  to  the  former;  stating  that  it  requires  2o^ 
pounds  of  White  Mulberry  leaves  to  obtain  i^^  pounds 
cocoons ;  which  is  at  the  rate  of  thirteen  pounds  thirteen 
ounces  to  one  pound  of  cocoons.  Three  other  species,  how- 
ever, are  mentioned. 

1.  The  Small  Silkivorm  of  Three  Moultings. — The  eggs  of 
this  species  weigh  one-eleventh  less  than  the  eggs  of  the 
common  silkworm;  39,168  of  the  latter  forming  an  ounce, 
while  42,260  of  the  smaller  are  required  to  make  that  weight. 
The  silkworms  and  cocoons  of  this  species  are  two-fifths 
smaller  than  those  of  the  common  sort.  Their  cocoons  are 
composed  of  finer  and  more  beautilul  silk,  and  400  of  them 
weighed  one  pound  ;  whilst  240  pounds  of  the  common 
weighed  the  same. 

2.  The  Large  Silkworm  of  Four  Moultings. — The  eggs  of 
this  species  were  obtained  from  Frinli.  They  were  only  one- 
fiftieth  more  in  weight,  or  37,440  to  the  ounce.  One  hundred 
of  their  cocoons  weighed  one  pound  ;  and  twelve  pounds  and 
a  half  of  leaves  yielded  one  pound  of  cocoons.  But  the 
coarseness  of  the  silk  counterbalance  any  advantages  derivable 
from  the  preceding  considerations. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


3.  Worms  that  Produce  White  Silk. — Large  quantities  of 
these  have  been  raised,  and  found  in  all  respects  equal  to  the 
common  silkworms  of  four  moultings.  Tne  silkworm  of  three 
moultings  and  those  that  produce  white  silk  are  by  many- 
considered  preferable  to  any  other.  And  every  year  the 
whitest  and  finest  cocoons  should  be  selected  to  prevent  the 
degeneration  of  the  species.  This  kind  was  introduced  into 
France  about  the  year  1783,  and  is  there  highly  esteemed ; 
but  it  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  that  we  have  under  the 
name  of  the  ''white  worm''  as  it  produces  two  crops  in  a 
season.  That  is,  hatched  at  the  usual  season  it  will  finish  its 
cocoon  and  deposit  eggs  that  admit  of  being  hatched  and 
raising  cocoons  during  the  continuance  of  the  same  season. 

Lord  Valencia  found  at  Jungepore,  in  Bengal,  a  species  of 
worm  producing  eight  crops  of  silk.  The  distinction  between 
a  one,  two,  three,  etc.  crop  ^%^  is  not  by  some  well  understood. 
It  means  that  the  eggs  of  the  one-crop  can  be  hatched  success- 
fully only  from  the  eggs  oi  the  previous  year,  kept  over  winter 
to  the  following  spring.  But  the  two  crop  eggs  may  be 
hatched  first  from  the  eggs  of  the  previous  year,  and  next 
from  the  eggs  of  the  first  hatch  of  the  same  season.  The 
three  crop  eggs  will  hatch  from  the  same  season's  eggs  in  so 
many  repeated  times.  The  eggs  of  one-crop  will  not  produce 
worms  until  the  following  season.  One  writer  says  he  ob- 
tained a  silkworm  from  China,  which  he  reared,  and  in  twenty- 
five  days  he  had  cocoons  ;  and  by  the  twenty-ninth  or  thirtieth 
day  he  had  a  new  progeny  feeding  in  his  trap.  He  remarks 
that  they  would  be  a  mine  of  wealth  to  those  who  would 
cultivate  them.  The  variety  Madrassa  finish  the  following 
course  in  forty  days  ;  six  days  in  the  e^g,  twenty-two  days  a 
larva,  eleven  days  a  chrysalis,  and  one  day  the  wings  or  moth. 

The  Cocoonery. 
It  has  been  recommended  by  a  number  of  copyists  to  scrape 


34  Instruction  Book  in  the 


the  eggs  off  the  paper  or  cloth,  to  wash  them  with  water  or 
wine,  or  to  employ  other  preparations  and  unnatural  manoeu- 
vres. Nothing  can  be  more  evident  than  that  this  is  an 
officious  interference  with  the  regular  manipulation  of  nature ; 
any  artificial  misdirection  of  this  kind  is,  to  say  the  least, 
superarogatory  and  detrimental.  In  this  country,  it  has  been 
abundantly  tested  that  no  degree  of  cold,  even  down  to  zero, 
can  injure  them  provided  they  are  not  suddenly  raised  or 
depressed  from  one  extreme  of  cold  or  heat  to  another.  It  is 
a  sudden  transition  of  temperature  by  which  they  are  injured. 
Eggs  when  laid  must  be  kept  dry  and  cold,  and  preserved  in 
a  vessel  or  by  other  means  from  the  attacks  of  insects  or 
vermin;  if  in  summer  or  autumn,  in  a  temperature  not  ex- 
ceeding fifty-five  degrees.  When  spring  arrives,  they  should 
be  placed  in  an  ice-house  or  some  such  place  where  they  can 
be  kept  in  a  temperature  not  greater  than  from  forty  to  forty- 
five  degrees ;  for  though  at  some  degrees  above  this  they  may 
not  hatch,  yet  they  will  be  liable  to  addle ;  as  they  would  if 
kept  in  a  cellar  where  the  unavoidable  dampness  of  such 
places  promotes  this  accident,  and  disappoints  the  hopes  of 
the  silk-grower. 

Hatching. 

No  hatching  should  at  any  time  be  attempted  until  the 
mulberry  leaves  are  springing  sufficiently  to  promise  an  abun- 
dant supply  during  their  first  and  every  successive  age,  as  the 
larvae  increase  in  si^e  to  use  them.  It  is  always  safer  to  be 
a  few  days  too  late  than  too  early.  In  removing  the  eggs 
from  the  ice-house  for  the  purpose  of  hatching  them,  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  introduce  them  too  suddenly  to  a 
change  of  temperature.  They  should  be  cautiously  and 
gradually  brought  from  a  cold  to  a  warm  atmosphere,  until 
the  temperature  be  from  seventy-five  degrees  to  eighty  degrees. 
Otherwise,  through  the  injury  from  sudden  transition,  sus- 
tained by  organization  so  delicate,  they  either  would  not  hatch 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


at  all,  or  hatch  and  die  soon  after.  The  young  larvae,  re- 
sembling a  small  black  worm,  generally  appear  from  sunrise 
to  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  tender  leaves  of  the  mul- 
berry should  be  in  readiness  scattered  on  the  trays,  shelves, 
or  table  where  they  are  placed,  and  the  attendant  should  be 
up  by  the  dawn  of  day  to  watch  them.  Those  that  do  not 
leave  their  shell  by  ten  o'clock,  usually  remain  until  the  next 
morning.  It  is  important  to  keep  the  worms  of  each  day's 
hatch  by  themselves  ;  which  may  easily  be  done  by  the  leaves 
placed  near  them  for  their  early  sustenance,  to  which  those 
that  have  left  the  shell  will  immediately  and  instinctively 
attach  themselves,  and  are  therefore  thus  easily  separated  and 
removed  wherever  the  person  tending  them  choses.  The 
hatch  of  any  one  day  particularly,  if  sufficiently  large,  should 
all  through  the  season  be  kept  by  itself ;  but  never  should  the 
hatches  of  more  than  two  consecutive  days  be  placed  together ; 
as  they  cannot  thus  pass,  during  the  time  of  feeding,  through 
the  several  moultings  together ;  and  the  consequence  will  be 
that  on  the  same  shelf  worms  will  be  found  eating  voraciously, 
whilst  others  are  sick  or  in  the  act  of  moulting ;  worms  in 
different  states,  requiring  different  treatment,  which  will  be 
inconvenient  if  not  detrimental.  The  silkworm  at  no  time 
evinces  much  inclination  for  motion  ;  and  if  properly  fed  and 
provided,  will  not  travel  beyond  the  distance  of  two  or  three 
feet  throughout  the  whole  of  its  pilgrimage  from  the  egg  to 
the  cocoon.  But  when  the  young  worm  first  appears,  unless 
food  be  near,  it  displays  considerable  activity.  Its  strong 
desire  to  eat,  which  it  immediately  manifests,  impels  it  to 
wander  anywhere  for  food.  But  if  this  desire  be  satisfied  by 
an  adequate  and  timely  provision,  they  seldom  show  an  in- 
clination to  leave  the  shelves  on  which  their  wants  are  sup- 
plied. Should  this  at  any  time  take  place,  which  will  only  be 
occasioned  by  hunger,  the  mere  smell  of  a  leaf  is  sufficient  to 
bring  them  back  to  their  domicile.      This  disinclination  to 


S6  Instruction  Book  in  the 


locomotion  is  one  of  the  greatest  advantages  of  the  domestic 
over  the  wild  silkworm  ;  otherwise,  the  trouble  consequent 
on  their  attendance  would  be  immense.  But  our  attendance 
on  their  little  but  important  wants  is  an  interesting  specimen 
of  the  union  of  profit  and  amusement. 

The  period  of  moulting  is  about  twenty-four  hours,  during 
which  it  lies  in  a  torpid  state  and  refuses  to  eat.  They  are 
then  greatly  injured  by  disturbance ;  and  the  feeding  or  at- 
tendance necessary  to  one,  must  not  be  allowed  to  disturb 
another  in  a  different  condition. 

Diseases  from  the  bad  air  of  the  district  in  which  silkworms 
are  reared. — Low  marshy  places,  productive  of  noxious  vapor  ; 
all  situations  where  the  air  is  liable  to  become  stagnant ;  and 
certain  effluvia,  especially  that  from  tobacco,  are  injurious  ; 
the  latter  being  speedy  death  to  the  worms. 

Diseases  from  zvant  of  room. — When  silkworms  are  on  the 
shelves  crowded  too  much,  they  become  unhealthy.  In  re- 
m  oving  them,  the  hand  need  not  be  applied  to  the  insect.  It 
is  only  necessary  to  apply  another  hurdle  with  fresh  leaves  in 
it  to  the  side  of  the  shelf  where  the  crowded  worms  are. 
Silkworms  breathe  through  little  orifices,  or  spiracula,  situated 
on  each  side  near  their  legs.  Consequently,  being  crowded 
is  to  them  a  greater  mechanical  obstruction  than  it  would  be 
to  animals  otherwise  constructed. 

Diseases  from  the  quality  or  quantity  of  food. — The  worms 
should  be  fed  with  great  attention  to  their  peculiar  wants. 
Dry  leaves,  fresh  as  possible,  being  given,  after  having  lain  a 
day  in  a  cool  place,  thinly  spread  to  prevent  heating.  In 
anticipation  of  rainy  weather,  a  supply  for  three  days  may  be 
procured.  Leaves  taken  from  trees  growing  in  moist  soil 
and  shady  places  are  not  proper.  Over  and  under  feeding 
may  equally  produce  disease.     The  leaves  after  being  pulled 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  37 

may  be  exposed  to  the  sun  a  few   minutes,   and  then   set  in  a 
dry  place  to  cool. 

Diseases  from  improper  change  of  food. — Changing  the  leaves 
of  the  red  for  the  white,  or  other  species  of  the  mulberry,  is 
sometimes  detrimental.  The  leaves  of  different  .species  should 
no  be  given  at  the  same  time  ;  much  less,  any  leaf  of  inferior 
quality  be  administered  at  the  last  stages  of  feeding. 

Diseases  from  peculiar  constitution  of  the  air. — The  farmer, 
the  horticulturist,  the  orchardist,  all  complain  of  unfavorable 
seasons  ;  and  the  medical  man  or  his  patients  of  endemical 
and  epidemical  times.  And  whether  we  have  the  influenza  or 
the  cholera,  we  lay  the  blame  to  the  air,  and  demand  of  the 
meteorologist  its  component  parts.  But  all  this  time  a  myriad 
of  evanescent  things,  hidden  from  eye,  from  ear,  from  sense, 
may  be  in  operation.  All  we  can  do  is  to  use  the  precau- 
tions already  prescribed. 

Diseases  from  sudden  changes  of  temperature. — We  must 
ever  remember  that  the  insects  are  tender,  and  therefore,  we 
should  be  provided  with  every  suitable  means  to  correct  any 
sudden  variation  in  temperature. 

The  Passes. 

This  disease  is  known. — First,  from  the  yellow  tinge  of  the 
worms.  Second,  from  its  lengthened  spare  shape  and  wrinkled 
skin.  Third,  from  its  sharp  and  stretched  feet.  Fourth,  it 
eats  little,  languishes,  and  is  evidently  in  a  state  of  atrophy. 
The  remedies  are  instant  removal  from  the  healthy  worms  to 
an  apartment  which  is  well  ventilated  and  where  they  can  be 
distinctly  attended  to.  They  should  have  a  due  supply  of  ten- 
der leaves,  and  a  uniform  temperature,  but  a  little  higher  than 
that  required  by  the  worm  in  a  state  of  health. 


SS  Instruction  Book  in  the 


The  Grasserie. 

This  disease  generally  appears  towards  the  second  moulting, 
rarely  later ,  and  is  scarcely  known  in  the  fourth  age.  The 
symptoms  are  1st,  they  eat  but  do  not  digest  their  food  ;  hence, 
2nd,  they  swell ;  3rd,  their  bodies  become  opaque  and  of  a 
greenish  color.  The  remedies  are,  if  not  too  late,  ist,  instant 
removal;  2nd,  lessen  the  quantity  of  nourishment;  3rd,  give 
the  thin  leaves  of  the  wild  or  of  some  inferior  mulberry;  4th, 
ventilation  and  moderate  temperature. 

The  Yellows. 

Appearing  about  the  fifth  age,  when  the  worms  are  filled 
with  a  silky  fluid  and  about  to  spin.  Symptoms,  the  body 
swells,  and  the  enlargement  of  the  rings  gives  to  the  feet  an 
appearance  of  being  drav/n  up.  Remedy  ;  ist,  instant  removal, 
as  on  all  similar  occasions  ;  2nd,  ventilation,  assisted  by  fires, 
if  necessary;  3rd,  in  two  cases,  oak  leaves  were  given  with 
success. 

The  Tripes,  or  Mort  Blanc. 

Symptoms,  the  worm  becomes  flacid  and  soft.  When  dead, 
they  preserve  a  fresh  and  healthy  appearance,  and  on  being 
touched  they  feel,  it  is  said,  like  tripe.  Remedies;  ist,  instant 
removal ;  2nd,  dry  the  air  of  the  infirmary  by  sudden  flash 
fires  under  chimneys  provided  for  the  purpose.  Chloride  of 
lime  is  a  fumigator  and  purifier. 

Of  worms,  through  negligence,  the  French  formerly  lost 
fifty  per  cent;  whilst  the  Chinese  scarcely  lose  one  per  cent. 
This  difference,  carried  out  into  the  million,  is  490,000  worms  ; 
or  a  differnce  in  Silk  of  163  pounds,  worth  $815  ;  sufficient  to 
show  the  value  of  the  timely  care  and  vigilant  attention  of  our 
five  weeks'  services,  for  which  the  little  generous  animals  will 
pay  us  so  liberally. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


Enemies  to  the  Silk  Worms. 

The  enemies  of  Silk  Worms  are  sparrows,  stvallows,  robins, 
titmouse  and  poultry.  Care  must  therefore  be  taken  to  exclude 
them.  Besides  these,  such  vermin  as  mice,  rats,  weasels,  lizards 
ants  and  spiders  are  to  be  catalogued  as  enemies.  The  last  are 
said  to  make  the  most  active  war  against  Silk  Worms. 

One  point  in  Silk  culture  which  may  be  considered  an  ele- 
ment and  therefore,  important  in  statistical  calculation.  Count 
Dandolo  says  :  "  To  make  one  ounce  of  picked  eggs  there 
should  be  for  an  average  weight  39,168  eggs.  I  have  observed 
with  some  surprise,  that  there  was  little  difference  in  the  weight  of 
eggs  belo7iging  to  about  twenty  persons ^  The  Count,  therefore, 
had  ascertained  this  fact  by  at  least  twenty  distinct  trials. 
Where  have  we  another  example  of  patient  investigation  equal 
to  this  ?  Not  one  !  So  easy  is  it  to  copy,  or  to  quote  the 
words  of  another  as  c;/r  doctrine ;  so  difificult  to  be  original. 

Space  Statistics. 

The  Worms  proceeding  from  one  ounce  of  eggs  should 
have  a  space : 


n  the  1st  age. 

of     . 

.       7 

feet 

:,  4  inches  square. 

2nd  " 

, 

14 

8 

"        3rd    " 

•     34 

8 

4th    " 

82 

6 

"       5th   " 

•  183 

4 

40 


Instruction  Book  in  the 


FEET  SQUARE  REQUISITE  ON  THE  SHELVES    FOR 

WORMS  PROCEED- 

Ages. 

ING   FROM 

One 
Ounce 

8 

Two 
Ounces 

Three 
Ounces 

Four 
Ounces 

Five 
Ounces 

Six 
Ounces 

Seven 
Ounces 

Eight 
Ounces 

Nine    1     Ten 
Ounces     Ounces 

I 

16 

24 

32 

40 

48 

56 

64 

72J          80 

2 

15 

30 

45 

60 

75 

90 

105 

120 

135 

150 

3 

35 

70 

105 

140 

175 

210 

245 

280 

315 

350 

4 

83 

166 

249 

332 

415 

498 

581 

664 

747 

830 

5 

184 

368 

552 

736 

920 

1,104 

1,288 

1472 

1,656 

1,840 

Mr  Strong  of  Germantown,  from  an  experiment  with  five 
ounces,  furnished  from  the  seventh  to  the  thirty-third  day  the 
follov^^ing  statement,  by  quoting  the  number  of  hurdles  re- 
quisite, each  twelve  square  feet. 


DAYS. 

HURDLES. 

DAYS. 

HURDLES. 

DAYS. 

HURDLES 

7 

\l% 

16 

34 

25 

70 

8 

13 

17 

34 

26 

70 

9 

13 

18 

34 

27 

87 

10 

13 

19 

34 

28 

87 

II 

13 

20 

34 

29 

^7 

12 

18 

21 

34 

30 

87 

13 

27 

22 

51 

31 

90 

14 

27 

23 

61 

32 

108 

15 

38 

24 

70 

33 

112 

Art  of  Silk  Culture.  41 

Unless  we  can  in  all  climates  of  this  Union  from  Maine  to 
Louisiana,  and  in  all  years,  through  May  and  June  at  least, 
promise  ourselves  a  temperature  of  not  less  than  75  degress, 
the  use  of  a  thermometer  and  the  means  necessary  for  raising 
the  temperature  to  that  degree,  is  advisable.  One  of  the  foun- 
dations of  the  art  of  rearing  silk  worms  is  to  know  the  various 
degrees  of  heat  in  which  the  silk  worms  should  live  ;  if  this 
precept  be  not  enforced,  nothing  can  be  performed  with  exact- 
ness. We  must  not  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  it  is  not  heat 
that  affects  the  silk  worm,  but  sudden  transitions  from  one 
temperature  to  another.  If  it  be  necessary  to  hasten  the 
worms  in  consequence  of  the  advanced  state  of  the  mulberry 
leaf  (which  cannot  be  retarded)  it  should  be  done  gradually, 
so  that  they  perceive  not  the  alteration.  One  year,  when  hur- 
ried by  the  early  growth  of  the  mulberry  leaves,  the  worms 
were  given  100  degrees  of  heat  during  the  first  two  days  after 
hatching ;  and  about  95  degrees  during  the  remainder  of  the 
first  and  second  age.  There  elapsed  only  nine  days  from  the 
hatching  until  the  second  moulting.  The  walls  and  wicker 
hurdles  were  so  heated  they  could  scarcely  be  touched. 
All  thought  they  must  persish  ;  but  all  went  on  well,  and  a 
most  abundant  crop  followed.  To  follow  this  method  it  is 
requisite  to  observe  well  the  advancement  of  the  season.  If 
the  first  age  of  the  worms  is  prolonged,  the  leaf  will  grow  and 
harden  and  become  unfit  for  them.  The  essential  point  is 
that  their  progress  should  follow  that  of  the  leaf  We  must 
calculate  the  duration  of  the  different  ages  of  the  worm  ;  and 
so  manage  that  the  fourth  age  shall  fall  into  the  time  in  which 
the  leaf  has  attained  its  full  growth. 

The  silk  worms  proceeding  from  one  ounce  of  eggs  consume 

In  the  first  age. — 6  lbs.  of  white  miilbeny  leaves  well  sorted 
and  chopped  very  small ;  to  which  5  lbs.  of  the  leaves  of  the 
morus  multicaidis  will  be  equal. 


42  Instruction  Book  in  the 

In  the  second  age. — Of  the  white  mulberry,  i8  lbs. ;  sorted, 
clean  and  chopped  rather  more  coarsely  than  in  the  first  age. 
Of  the  multicaulis,  about  15  lbs. 

In  the  third  age. — Of  white  mulbeiry,  60  lbs.  well  sorted 
and  less  chopped.     Of  multicaulis,  50  lbs. 

In  the  fourth  age. — White  mulberry  180  lbs,,  well  sorted 
and  still  less  chopped  than  that  of  the  third  age.  Multicaulis, 
144  lbs. 

In  the  fifth  age . — White  mulberry,  iioo  lbs.  Multicaulis, 
880  lbs. 

The  above  is,  of  course,  given  as  a  general  rule,  or  one  on 
the  supposition  of  ordinary  circumstances  and  care.  We  are 
informed  that  even  a  variation  in  the  season  will  have  an  influ- 
ence on  the  requisite  quantity  of  leaves.  If  the  leaf  be  injured 
by  the  season,  and  the  proportion  of  nutritive  matter  it  con- 
tains lessened,  a  greater  quantity  to  produce  the  same  effect 
will  be  necessary;  and,  vice  versa,  if  the  nutritive  proportion 
of  the  leaf  be  increased,  a  quantity  less  than  the  medium  pre- 
scribed will  realize  the  hopes  of  the  culturist  The  above  will 
serve  as  an  outline  of  manipulation  on  a  small  scale.  In  fol- 
lowing out  the  detail,  however,  for  the  sake  of  variety  we  will 
repair  to  the  large  laboratory  or  establishment/i?;' w^;';«.f /ro- 
ceeding  from  five  ounces  of  eggs.  It  is  proper  that  at  the  com- 
mencement the  shelves  should  be  numbered  i,  2,  3,  4,  &c., 
throughout.  The  quantity  of  the  eggs  to  be  hatched  ought 
not  to  be  more  than  will  leave  room,  within  the  cocoonery, 
and  according  to  the  number  of  shelves  that  we  can  conveni- 
ently furnish  therein,  sufficient  for  the  full  development  of  the 
worms,  or  for  their  accommodation  at  their  utmost  growth. 

The  eggs  should  have  been  divided  by  weight  into  ounces 
or  half  ounces,  and  each  parcel  kept  apart.  It  would  be  better, 
supposing  the  number  of  shelves  to  be  30,  35,  40  or  upwards, 
to   divide  into  half  ounces  ;  and  so  to  apportion  them  as  to 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  ^S 


leave  a  number  of  spare  shelves  ;  and,  if  the  eggs  be  good,  and 
the  produce  more  than  an  average,  to  distribute  them  into  more 
space  than  they  would  ordinarily  occupy.  But  the  distribu- 
tion on  the  shelves  according  to  the  order  or  date  of  their 
hatching,  and  according  to  distinctive  numbers  on  the  shelves 
and  as  duly  recorded  on  a  diary,  which  will  be  kept  by  every 
accurate  culturist,  should  be  observed  throughout. 

Leaves  are  now  to  be  thinly  scatttered  over  the  shelves. 
It  is  not  absolutely  necessary  that  the  hurdles  should  be  used 
till  the  third  age.  The  young  larvs  will  run  about  and  leave 
the  shelves,  if  food  be  not  given  to  them  immediately  after 
their  exodus  from  the  shell.  They  will  never  leave  the  feed- 
ing-shelves till  they  rise  to  spin,  provided  they  be  duly 
supplied  with  food,  proper  in  quality,  sufficient  in  quantity, 
and  at  the  time  they  require  it.  The  following  cut  represents 
the  worms  just  emerged  from  the  shell,  during  the  first  age. 

Rearing  of  the  Worms. 

First  Age. — First  day. — To  the  worms  proceeding  from  one 
ounce  of  eggs,  on  the  first  day  of  their  existence  in  the  larva 
state,  are  to  be  given,  in  proper  proportions,  at  successive 
meals,  two  hours  apart,  of  the  white  mulbeny  leaf,  about  three- 
fourth  lbs.,  chopped  very  small;  giving  the  smallest  quantity 
for  the  first  feeding,  and  gradually  increasing  the  quantity  at 
each  successive  meal ;  of  the  midticaulis  leaf,  the  quantity  may 
be  three-fifths  lbs.  The  benefit  of  giving  the  leaf,  at  this  early 
stage  of  the  worm,  in  a  stage  of  minute  division  by  chopping, 
is  evident.  The  more  the  leaf  is  chopped,  the  more  fresh-cut 
edges  exist,  on  which  the  little  mandibles  of  the  infant  opera- 
tives can  fasten.  In  this  state  they  bite  the  leaf  quickly,  and 
consume  it  before  it  is  withered.  If  care  be  not  taken  thus  to 
chop  the  leaf  small,  and  to  give  the  young  worms  sufficient 
space  at  first,  and  more  as  they  need  it,  a  greater  number  will 
be   liable  to  perish  by  disease,  or  from  difficulties   they  want 


Development. 


7  j  1st  Day 


9  3d    " 

! 

10  4th    " 

I 

11  5th    " 
i 

12  1st  Day. 

j 
13 1 2d    „ 

14 


1st  Day. 


-£^ 


SECOND  AGE. 


THIRD  AGE. 


Development. 


FOURTH  AGE. 


FIFTH  AGE. 


S-S 


2^ 


I     ; 


46  Instruction  Book  in  the 

strength  to  encounter  at  an  age  so  early.  The  worm  that 
cannot  eat,  dwindles,  becomes  extenuated,  weak,  and  unsup- 
ported ;  and,  consequently  perishes  under  the  leaf.  Count 
Dandolo  fed  his  worms  regularly  four  times  every  day. 

Second  day. — On  this  day,  of  the  white  mulberry  leaf,  give, 
at  four  regular  meals,  about  one  and  one-fifth  pounds  chopped 
very  small.  Let  the  first  meal  be  the  least,  and  increase 
gradually  to  the  last ;  of  the  multicaulis,  give  about  one  pound. 
There  will  now  appear  some  evident  change  in  the  appear- 
ance of  the  worm.  It  begins  to  lose  its  dingy  and  bristled 
aspect,  and  the  head  perceptibly  enlarges  and  whitens. 

Third  day. — Give  at  four  meals  this  day,  oisoft,  white  mul- 
berry leaves,  chopped  very  small,  about  two  and  two-fifth 
pounds;  o{ the  multicaulis,  about  two  pounds.  The  worms 
are  now  feeding  with  avidity.  The  head  of  the  worms  con- 
tinues to  become  whiter,  the. insect  to  grow  larger,  the  former 
bristly  appearance  to  vanish,  and  the  skin  is  assuming  a  sort 
of  hazel  color.  When  viewed  through  a  convex  lens,  their 
surface  looks  shining,  and  their  head  a  silvery  white,  some- 
what like  mother-of-pearl  and  transparent. 

Fourth  day. — As  the  worm  approaches  the  moulting,  a  dimi- 
nution of  appetite  occurs.  Of  the  white  mulberry,  give  about 
one  and  one-third  pounds,  let  the  first  meal  be  about  one-half 
pound,  and  the  rest  gradually  decrease  to  the  last.  Of  the 
7nulticaidis,  give  about  one  pound,  one  ounce.  And  let  it  be 
remembered,  that  in  this  first  age,  it  is  of  importance  to  give 
the  insects  plenty  of  room  by  gently  separating  and  spreading 
them,  to  avoid  as  much  as  possible  their  sleeping,  on  the  verge 
of  moulting,  in  heaps.  At  the  beginning  of  this  day,  the 
first  appearance  of  the  approaching  change  are  indicated.  The 
worms  begin  to  shake  their  heads  and  thus  express  uneasiness 
at  the  increasing  tension  of  their  skin.     Some  are  now  eating 


Art  of  Silk  Culture  47 

very  little ;  keep  their  head  in  an  elevated  position,  their  body- 
appears  transparent.  Those  nearer  the  moulting  time,  when 
seen  against  the  light,  are  of  a  yellow,  livid  tinge  ;  but  the 
greater  number  at  the  close  of  the  day,  appear  torpid  and 
cease  to  eat. 

Fifth  day. — Of  the  young  leaves  of  the  white  mulberry, 
three-tenths  pounds  only,  chopped  small,  will  be  sufficient. 
These  chopped  leaves,  scattered  lightly  on  those  parts  of  the 
shelves  where  worms  appear  to  be  still  feeding.  Of  course, 
where  variations  from  the  general  state  be  perceived,  and  some 
are  still  willing  to  eat,  more  leaves  may  be  given.  The  dis- 
cretion of  the  careful  superintendent,  here  and  in  all  similar 
cases,  must  be  given.  Towards  the  end  of  the  day,  however,  in 
the  general  case,  the  rooms  are  torpid  and  a  few  begin  even  to 
arrive.  After  the  first  moulting,  the  silk  worm  is  of  a  dark  ash 
color,  showing  distinctly  a  peculiar  vermicular  motion  ;  and 
the  rings  that  mechanically  assist  that  motion  contract  and  di- 
late their  intervening  distance  more  freely  than  before. 

Second  Age. 

About  fifteen  feet  square  of  shelf  space  will  be  for  tht  accom- 
modation of  the  growing  family  proceeding  from  one  ounce, 
necessary  until  the  accomplishment  of  the  second  moulting,  or 
completion  of  this  second  age.  These  should  always  be 
covered  with  strong  paper  or  proper  paste-board.  The  tem- 
perature during  this  age  should  be  between  seventy-three  and 
seventy-five  degrees.  Prescribing  as  to  temperature  in  a  hot 
country  appears,  of  course,  somewhat  arbitrary.  Our  only 
means  o{ commajiding  the  temperature  is  to  use  large  fans  sus- 
pended from  the  ceiling.  Silk  worms  of  the  first  day  should 
be  placed  in  the  coolest  parts  of  the  laboratory,  and  the  latest 
hatched  worms  in  the  hottest  part. 

Important  changes  are  effected  by  the  first  moulting.  The 
organs  assume  greater  consistency.     The  scaly  muzzle  which 


48  Instruction  Book  in  the 

they  lose  by  moulting  is  replaced  by  another  which  the  air 
indurates  ;  and  till  the  small  jaws  or  mandibles  have  acquired 
sufficient  hardness,  they  cannot,  in  certain  cases,  divide  the 
leaves  with  an  expedition  equal  to  what  their  seasonable 
advance  to  maturity  requires.  With  the  aid  of  a  convex  lens, 
we  immediately  perceive  the  efforts  to  the  expense  of  which 
an  unassisted  worm  is  liable  at  this  age  in  gnawing  the  leaf. 

Sixth  day. — Of  the  white  mulberry  give  now  four-fifth  lbs. 
of  leaves  well  picked  and  chopped  small.  Of  the  multicaulis 
this  is  equal  to  3  lbs.  Experience  has  proved  that  the  silk 
worms  like  the  tender  boughs  so  much  that  they  remain 
crowded  on  them  even  when  the  leaves  are  consumed,  and 
evince  a  reluctance  to  return  to  the  litter  below.  This  remark 
will  doubtless  afford  a  hint  to  the  provident  culturist  m  afford- 
ing the  requisite  accommodations  for  the  health  and  comfort 
of  animals  that  repay  in  proportion  to  the  care  expended  on 
them.  When  the  worms  have  been  removed  to  clean  hurdles, 
those  they  have  left  should  be  thoroughly  cleansed. 

Seventh  day. — Of  the  white  nndberry  give. 6  lbs.  of  chopped 
leaves  ;  divided  into  four  portions  to  be  given  at  intervals  of 
six  hours;  but  an  improvement  would  be  to  divide  into  ten  or 
twelve  portions,  given  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  hours  each. 
The  first  meals  less  plentiful  than  those  which  follow.  Of  the 
midticaulis,  this  quantity  is  equivalent  to  5  lbs.  The  body  of 
the  worm  now  acquires  a  clear  hue ;  the  head  enlarges  and 
becomes  whiter.  Continue  to  pay  unremitting  attention  to 
the  equal  distribution,  as  to  space,  of  the  worms.  Place 
boughs  wherever  they  appear  to  be  too  thick  ;  on  which  they 
will  immediately  fasten,  and  may  thus  be  removed  or  dis- 
tributed to  fill  up  places  not  sufficiently  covered. 

Eighth  day. — Give  now,  of  the  white  mulberry  6f  lbs.  of 
chopped  and  well-picked  leaves  ;  and  at  this  time  let  the  two 
or  three  first  meals  be  the  largest.     Of  the  ntidticaidis ,  give 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  49 

5|-  lbs.  These  leaves,  distribute  at  each  meal  with  attention, 
and,  as  far  as  possible,  proportionate  to  the  degee  of  avidity 
discovered  by  the  worm ; 'since  it  becomes  again  the  period 
when  the  voracity  of  the  worm,  consequent  on  the  approach 
of  the  second  moulting,  begins  to  abate ;  which  they  soon 
ndicate  by  the  usual  prognostics  of  rearing  their  heads  and 
declining  to  eat. 

Ninth  day. — Of  the  white  mulberry,  one  and  four-fifth  pounds 
only  of  picked  leaves,  and  chopped  small,  will  be  required,  dis- 
tributed in  the  same  manner  as  before.  Scatter  the  propor- 
tions lightly  and  with  discriminating  care  over  the  worms.  Of 
the  multicaulis,  about  one  and  two-fifth  pounds  ^ill  be  suffi- 
cient. On  this  day,  our  metempsychosin  insect  is  again  dis- 
covering its  periodic  restlessness  for  change.  It  is  sinking 
into  a  torpor.  The  next  day  its  old  wardrobe  is  disposed  of, 
and  it  becomes  as  eager  or  more  of  its  third  life  as  it  was  of 
the  first. 

Third  Age. 

Tenth  day. — Give  of  white  mulberry  three  pounds  of  small 
shoots,  and  three  pounds  of  picked  leaves,  chopped  small.  At 
the  close  of  the  age,  they  may  be  more  coarsely  chopped.  To 
this  quantity,  four  and  four-fifth  pounds  of  the  multicaulis  are 
equivalent.  The  worms  that  have  accomplished  this  age  should 
not  be  removed  from  the  shelves  until  they  are  nearly  roused. 
Part  will  rouse  on  the  ninth  and  part  on  the  tenth  day.  No 
injurious  consequence  will  ensue,  if  the  part  that  has  revived 
should  wait  twelve  or  fifteen  hours  till  the  rest  are  ready.  A 
never-failing  sign  that  they  are  roused  is  the  undulatory  mo- 
tion they  display  with  their  head  when  horizontally  blown 
over.  It  will  ever  be  incumbent  on  the  superintendent  fre- 
quently to  inspect  the  operations  of  the  feeders,  to  see  that 
the  food  is  at  all  times  equally  distributed,  according  to  the 
varying  wants  on  different  portions  of  the  shelves.  Redun- 
4 


so  Instruction  Book  in  the 

dant  leaves,  though  a  loss,  is  still  an  inconvenience  less  than 
the  accumulation  of  an  unnecessary  portion  of  litter,  which 
may  ferment  and  produce  noxious  evaporation  and  disease. 

Eleventh  day. — Of  the  white  mulberry,  give  at  separate  meals 
eighteen  pounds  of  picked  and  chopped  leaves;  of  the  multt- 
caulis  fourteen  and  two-fifth  pounds.  The  first  meals  should 
be  the  least ;  the  reason  of  this  the  worms  themseves  will  ex- 
plain, since  it  is  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day  that  they  become 
voraciously  hungry. 

Twelfth  day. — Of  the  white  mulberry,  nineteen  and  two- 
fifth  pounds  of  picked  leaves  will  be  wanted,  chopped  and 
divided  intcf^the  usual  number  of  meals ;  the  first  being  most 
plentiful.  Towards  evening,  the  hunger  begins  to  abate,  the 
last  meal  therefore  on  this  day  should  be  the  least.  To  this 
quantity  of  the  multicaulis,  fifteen  and  three-fifth  pounds  will 
be  equivalent.  The  worms  now  grow  fast ;  their  skins  be- 
come whiter,  their  bodies  semi-transparent,  and  their  heads 
longer,  and  the  contortions  they  make  show  that  their  change 
approaches. 

Thirteenth  day. — Ten  and  a  half  of  chopped  white  mulbeiry 
leaves  will  now  be  sufficient.  Eight  and  two-fifth  pounds  of 
the  multicaulis.  Give  in  the  usual  number  of  meals,  the  largest 
first,  the  last  meal  the  least,  feeding  those  only  that  require  it. 
Should  a  greater  number  of  worms  on  one  table  be  torpid, 
whilst  others  continue  to  require  food,  give  only  a  slight  meal 
without  waiting  for  the  stated  hour  of  feeding,  in  order  to 
satisfy  them,  that  they  may  sink  into  torpor  speedily.  Care 
of  this  kind  is  important,  and  intermediate  meals  occasionally 
given  and  by  discretion  administered,  are  beneficial. 

Fourteenth  day. — Of  the  white  mulberry  5f  lbs.  of  picked  and 
chopped  leaves  will  be  sufficient,  in  ordinary  cases,  more  or 
less,  as  occasion  requires.     To  this  medium  supply,  oi  multi- 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  81 

caulis  leaves  4|-  lbs.  will  be  equivalent.  Indications  of  silk 
now  begin  to  appear  from  the  occasional  depositions  of  the 
the  insect.  The  worm  now  manifests  inclination  for  solitude 
and  free  space  to  slumber  in.  It  either  climbs  the  edge  of  the 
paper,  the  elevated  stalks  or  leaves,  or  in  failure  of  that,  on  the 
litter ;  it  rears  its  head  and  expresses  its  uneasiness.  Imme- 
diately on  the  verge  of  change,  they  void  all  gross  excremen- 
titious  matter;  a  yellow  and  semi-transparent  lymph  only  occu- 
pies the  intestinal  tube,  and  constitutes  nearly  the  only  fluid 
remaining  in  the  animal.  This  also  is  that  which  prior  to 
their  change  gives  them  a  yellowish  white  color  like  amber. 
Whilst  the  worms  thus  prepare  for  the  moulting,  sufficiently 
clear,  by  moderate  ventilation  the  air  of  the  cocoonery. 

Fifteenth  day. — On  this  day  the  rousing  of  the  silk  worms, 
which  they  begin  to  manifest,  is  an  inclination  of  the  comple- 
tion of  the  third  age. 

Fourth  Age. 

The  worms,  with  proper  care  surviving  now  from  one 
ounce,  should  have  a  space  equal  to  82  square  feet,  and 
should  be  equally  distributed  as  already  prescribed,  and  the 
temperature  should  not  be  less  than  68  degrees  nor  higher  if 
possible  than  71  degrees  ;  but  whenever  it  rises,  as,  at  this 
season,  it  inevitably  may,  greater  compensating  means  must 
be  sought  by  the  instant  removal  of  all  litter  liable  to  fermen- 
tation ;  and  promoting  by  ventilators  and  other  means,  a  due 
circulation  of  air  in  the  cocoonery.  We  must  again  insist  on 
the  impropriety  of  lifting  off  the  hurdles  those  silk  worms 
that  have  completed  their  third  age  until  nearly  all  are  roused. 
The  one  part  waiting  a  day,  or  even  a  day  and  a  half,  for  the 
other,  is,  as  said  before,  not  injurious.  It  is,  however,  advis- 
able to  place  the  early  roused  in  the  coldest  part  of  the 
laboratory ;  be  it  remembered  the  appetites  as  well  as  the 
growth  may  be  thus  artificially  retarded.     If  this  be  inconve- 


82  Instruction  Book  in  the 

nient  or  impracticable,  give  to  the  early  roused  less  space  ; 
and  to  the  late  roused,  more  space.  By  both  these  means, 
their  advance  towards  the  maturity  of  their  fourth  age  will  be 
so  preserved  that  they  will  moult  together,  which  is 
important. 

Sixteenth  day. — On  this  day  give  ']\  lbs.  of  the  young  shoots, 
and  12  lbs.  of  picked  leaves  of  the  white  mulberry  coarsely 
chopped  with  a  large  blade.  To  this  quantity  1 5|  lbs.  of  the 
multicaulis  will  be  equal.  When  the  moment  of  removing  the 
worms  from  the  hurdles  arrives,  one  or  two  hurdles  only  at  a 
time  should  be  covered  with  young  shoots.  These  shoots, 
loaded  with  worms,  are  afterwards  put  on  the  empty  shelves, 
and  removed,  as  in  the  first  moultings.  Should  there  not  be 
a  sufficiency  of  small  boughs,  branches  of  15  or  20  leaves  of 
white  mulberry  tied  together  by  the  stalks,  will  answer  the 
purpose.  The  removal  should  be  effected  by  three  persons  ; 
one  to  fill  the  shelves,  one  to  carry  them,  and  another  gently 
to  remove  them  from  these  shelves  on  the  hurdles,  in  the  space 
allotted  to  them.  When  those  which  have  revived  are 
removed,  others  yet  remain  torpid  on  the  35  feet  square  of 
hurdles,  or  that  have  not  yet  strength  to  climb  on  the  shoots 
or  branches  of  leaves.  But  it  will  be  discovered  that  the 
early  roused  have  probably  by  this  time  eaten  all  the  leaves 
on  the  young  shoots  or  branches  that  served  to  carry  them, 
and  that  they  remain  without  food  on  the  shelf  They  should 
then  be  suppled  with  6  lbs.  oi  white  mulberry  chopped  a  little, 
or  with  5  lbs  of  the  multicaulis.  The  other  6  lbs.  of  leaves 
should  not  be  given  until  the  second  meal  has  been  thoroughly 
consumed. 

At  the  end  of  this  day,  the  worms  begin  to  evince  renewed 
vigor ;  they  move  more  nimbly,  they  grow  perceptibly,  they 
lose  their  ugly  color,  become  slightly  white,  and  assume 
more  animal  vivacity. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  S3 

Seventeenth  day. — 23  lbs.  of  the  white  mulberry,  slightly  cut 
up,  will  now  be  wanted.  The  first  meals  should  be  the  light- 
est ;  the  last,  most  copious.  26  lbs.  of  the  multicaulis.  The 
worms  now  grow  fast,  and  their  skin  continues  to  whiten. 

Eighteenth  day. — 45  lbs.  of  the  sorted  leaves  of  the  white 
mulberry,  a  little  cut ;  or  36  lbs.  of  the  multicaulis,  are  at  this 
time  the  proper  preparations.  The  former  meals  of  the  day 
to  be  the  most  plentiful. 

Nineteenth  day. — Of  white  mulberry,  the  cut  leaves  to  be 
distributed  at  successive  meals,  should  amount  to  5 1  lbs.,  the 
first  meals  of  the  day  still  being  the  larger  in  the  proportion  of 
about  5  to  3.  To  this  quantity,  41  lbs.  of  multicaulis  are 
equal.  The  worms  continue  to  become  whiter,  and  measure 
in  size  to  \\  inches  long. 

Twentieth  day. — Reduce  25f  lbs.  of  the  picked  leaves  of 
white  mulbeny,  since  on  this  day  the  appetite  of  the  larvae 
diminishes  ;  or  of  the  multicaulis  give  2of  lbs.  Let  the  first 
meal  be  the  largest,  and  gradually  lessen  until  the  last.  Sev- 
eral are  beginning  to  become  torpid  ;  therefore,  with  discrimi- 
nation give  leaves,  to  prevent  both  waste  and  also  avoidable 
fermentation,  only  as  they  are  wanted.  The  worms  are  now 
if  inches  long. 

Twenty-first  day. — Of  picked  leaves  of  white  mulberry,  seven 
pounds  ;  of  multicaulis,  five  and  three-eight  pounds  are  suffi- 
cient for  the  day.  The  changeable  animals  under  our  care 
are  now  decreasing  in  size,  since  they  lose  part  of  their  sub- 
stance before  they  sink  into  torpor.  The  greenish  color  of 
their  rings  becomes  changed,  and  their  skin  is  now  wrinkled. 

Ttventy-second  day. — The  worms  rouse  on  this  day,  and  thus 
accomplish  their  fourth  age. 


S4  Instruction  Book  in  the 

Fifth  Age. 

Twenty-third  day. — At  this  time  nearly  all  the  worms  are 
roused,  or  have  accomplished  their  fourth  moulting.  The 
laboratory  should  be  sixty-eight  or  seventy  degrees ;  and  the 
tenants,  for  they  pay  good  rent,  must  be  accommodated  with 
premises  equal  to  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  square  feet. 
In  the  first  day  of  the  fifth  age,  the  worms  should  fill  a  space 
of  about  one  hundred  feet  square  on  the  shelves,  which  added 
to  the  eighty-two  feet  which  they  occupied  during  the  pre- 
vious age,  and  which  should  now  be  cleaned,  form  together 
one  hundred  and  eighty-two  feet  square  on  which  they  are 
gradually  to  spread,  until  the  termination  of  this  state.  This 
day,  about  eighteen  pounds  of  the  young  shoots  of  the  white 
mulberry,  or  of  common  leaves  not  sorted,  and  also  eighteen 
pounds  of  picked  and  sorted  leaves  ;  in  all,  thirty-six  pounds, 
which  is  equal  to  twenty-nine  pounds  of  inulticaulis.  The 
eighteen  pounds  of  shoots  and  leaves  on  which  the  worms 
were  removed,  furnish  an  abundant  meal.  The  other  eighteen 
pounds  of  sorted  leaves  should  be  divided  into  four  meals,  which 
should  be  given  to  them  every  three  hours.  In  giving  the  first 
meal,  care  must  be  taken  to  straighten  the  lines  of  the  strips 
on  the  hurdles,  by  sweeping  any  straggling  leaves  or  worms 
into  regular  order  with  a  little  broom. 

In  the  preceding  age,  one  hundred  and  i  eighty  pounds  of 
leaves  were  distributed  and  the  litter  of  that  age  weighed  sixty 
pounds.  The  worms,  therefore,  derived  sustenance  from  one 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds  of  the  substance,  including  the 
loss  by  evaporation.  The  excrement  weighed  about  eighteen 
pounds. 

Twenty-fourth  day. — There  will  be  wanted  on  this  day,  of 
white  mulberry,  fifty-lour  pounds  of  leaves,  sorted,  and  divided 
into  eight  feeds.  The  first  should  be  the  least  of  about  five 
pounds,  and  the  last  the   most  plentiful,    or    of  about   nine 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  S5 

pounds.  Of  multicaiilis ,  forty-three  pounds  for  the  daj^,  of 
which  the  first  and  last  feeds  four  and  seven  pounds  respec- 
tively ;  the  intermediate  feeds  increasing  by  a  corresponding 
ratio. 

Twenty-fifth  day. — The  worms  will  now  require  of  white 
mulberry,  eighty-four  pounds  of  sorted  leaves,  divided  into 
eight  meals,  the  first  smaller  increasing  to  the  last.  Of  the 
multicaulis,  sixty-six  pounds  for  the  whole  day.  On  this  and 
the  preceding  day,  the  worms  continue  to  whiten,  many  ar  e 
now  upwards  of  two  inches  in  length. 

Twenty-sixth  day. — Our  propotions  must  be  of  w/«V^  mul- 
berjy,  ninety  pounds  of  sorted  leaves;  intervening  feedings 
increasing.  Multicaulis,  for  the  whole  day,  eighty-six  pounds  . 
The  voracious  period  of  the  worm  is  now  rapidly  advancing. 
Some  are  now  two  and  a  half  inches  long. 

Twenty-seventh  day. — Of  white  mulberry  for  the  whole  day, 
162  lbs.  of  picked  leaves  will  be  wanted.  Of  the  imdticaulis, 
125  lbs.  for  the  whole  day.  If  necessary,  the  worms  should 
now  have  intermediate  feeds.  When  the  regular  distribution 
of  leaves  is  devoured  in  less  than  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  worms 
need  not  receive  any  until  the  regular  feeding,  which  it  is 
understood  is  every  three  hours. 

Tzventy-eighth  day. — Give  now  oi  white  mulberry  195  lbs.  of 
picked  leaves,  divided  into  eight  feeds,  the  last  of  which  to  be 
most  abundant.  Of  multicaulis  156  lbs.  similarly  divided. 
The  worms  now  eat  most  voraciously,  and  some  even  attack 
the  fruit  which  is  among  the  leaves.  An  intermediate  meal 
may  be  added  when  it  appears  necessary,  as  may  be  inferred 
when  the  full  quantity  necessary  to  constitute  a  meal,  is 
devoured  within  an  hour.  Some  of  the  worms  are  now  three 
inches  long  ;  have  become  whiter,  and  present  to  the  touch  a 
velvet  surface. 


86  Instruction  Book  in  the 

Iwenty-ninth  day. — i8o  lbs  of  white  mulberry,  well  sorted, 
will  be  required  this  day ;  or  144  lbs.  of  multicaulis.  The  first 
meal  should  be  the  largest,  the  later  diminish  gradually  ;  but 
should  the  necessity  of  any  intermediate  meals  be  indicated,  as 
it  would  by  the  sign  already  stated,  it  should  at  this  important 
crisis  be  given. 

Some  of  the  worms  are  now  upwards  of  3  inches  in  length  ; 
in  certain  cases,  from  extraordinary  health  and  good  attention, 
they  are  known,  in  this  country  to  attain  the  length  of  even 
four  inches.  The  extremity  of  the  insect  begins  to  grow 
shining  and  yellowish,  their  voracity  abate,  which  intimate 
their  arrival  at  maturity ;  in  size  and  weight,  on  an  average, 
eleven  of  them  will  weigh  two  English  ounces  avoirdupois. 

Thirtieth  day. — The  diminished  appetite  of  our  cocoonery- 
boarders  requires  now  only  132  lbs.  oi  the  white  mulberry,  well 
sorted  ;  of  the  multicaulis,  I05f  lbs.  to  be  given  at  eight 
meals  ;  the  subsequent  feeds  to  be  gradually  lessened.  Give 
to  backward  worms,  if  necessary,  intermediate  meals. 

Thirty-first  day. — Diminished  wants  now  lessen  our  care  to 
the  provision  of  99  lbs.  only  of  white  mulbeny,  or  of  79  of 
multicaulis  ;  which  must  now  be  distributed  with  care  and  dis- 
cretion as  wanted. 

General  Remarks  on  the  Fifth  Age. 

Reckoning  48  lbs.  of  sorted  leaves  which  are  to  be  given 
to-morrow,  or  on  the  32nd  day,  the  worms  will  have  consumed 
during  this  fifth  age  1,098  lbs.  of  picked  leaves.  Addirig  to 
this,  102  lbs.  of  additional  feed  required,  the  total  weight  taken 
from  the  trees  will  be  1,200  lbs. 

The  total  weight  of  excrementitious  matter  down  from  the 
shelves  in  the  fifth  age,  is  about  660  lbs.  ;  which  demon- 
strates that  of  (1,098-660)  438  lbs,,  a  part  served  to  nourish 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  67 


the  worms  and  the  rest  exhaled  in  vapor.  Calculating  the 
weight  of  the  leaves  and  the  loss  by  evaporation,  the  worms, 
it  appears,  have  consumed  in  theii'  fifth  age  alone  240  lbs.  of 
leaves  per  ounce. 

Thirty-second  day. — During  this  day,  the  fifth  age  will  be 
terminated,  and  the  rising  begin.  Everything  should  be 
cleaned  and  kept  cleaned.  The  silk  worm  will  now  be  per- 
fected, which  may  be  known  by  the  following  signs,  i,  when 
the  insects  instead  of  eating  leaves  put  on  the  hurdles,  get  on 
them  and  rear  their  heads,  as  if  in  search  of  something  else. 
2,  when,  on  looking  at  them  horizontally,  the  light  shines 
through  them,  and  they  appear  of  a  whitish-yellow  transpa- 
rent color.  3,  when  numbers  of  the  worms  which  were  fas- 
tened to  the  inside  of  the  edges  of  the  hurdles  and  straightened, 
now  get  on  the  edges  and  move  slowly  along  ;  instinct  urging 
them  to  seek  change  of  place.  4,  when  numbers  of  worms 
leave  the  centre  of  the  hurdles  and  try  to  reach  the  edges.  5, 
when  their  rings  draw  in  and  their  greenish  color  changes  to 
a  deep  golden  hue.  6,  when  their  skins  become  wrinkled 
about  the  neck  and  their  bodies  have  more  softness  to  the 
touch  than  before.  7,  when  on  taking  a  worm  in  the  hand,  and 
looking  through  it,  the  whole  body  appears  to  have  assumed 
the  transparency  of  a  ripe  yellow  plum.  These  signs  are 
prognostics  of  their  rising.  Of  course,  everything  before  this, 
should  have  been  prepared  for  the  accommodation  of  the  in- 
sects, that  those  which  are  ready  may  not  waste  their  strength 
and  silk  in  seeking  the  support  they  require. 

No  slovenly  appendages  are  needed.  They  are  in  a  few 
minutes  in  their  cabins,  and  after  looking  about  to  ascertain  in 
what  position  they  should  arrange  their  building,  for  the  larvae 
has  forecast ;  it  commences  to  throw  the  floss  around  it.  The 
spinning  has  now  fairly  begun.  Some  may  yet  linger ; 
they  should  be  placed  on  a  separate  shelf,  that  all  the  cocoons 
formed  in  the  cabins  above  it  may  be  completed  and  gathered 


88  Instruction  Book  in  the 

at  the  same  time.  To  the  lingering  worms,  a  very  small 
quantity  of  leaves  should  be  given  ;  but  the  slightest  injury  at 
this  age  should  be  avoided"  as  particularly  hurtful.  It  is  best 
to  place  in  their  way  boughs  of  oak  or  heads  of  broom-corn. 
The  lazy  worms  will  soon  be  distributed  among  the  branches 
and  begin  their  work.  Avoid  dampness.  Temperature  sixty- 
eight  to  seventy-one  Fahrenheit.  The  air  may  be  admitted 
freely  when  the  cocoons  have  become  of  a  proper  consistency. 

Sixth   Age, 

This  age  commences  in  the  pupa  state,  and  ends  when  the 
moth  emerges  from  the  cocoon.  The  following  are  the 
necessary  things  that  remain  to  be  done  :  ist.  To  gather  the 
cocoons ;  2nd.  To  choose  those  cocoons  which  are  to  be  pre- 
served for  the  eggs  or  seed;  3rd.  Preservation  of  cocoons 
until  the  appearance  of  the  moth  ;  4th.  The  daily  loss  of  weight 
which  the  cocoons  suffer  from  the  time  they  are  finished  until 
the  appearance  of  the  moths. 

Gathering  cocoons  for  seed. — The  matured  ceterpillar  of  the 
cocoonery,  or  ateliere,  ceases  to  eat,  ascends  to  its  cabin,  elab- 
orates its  cocoon,  and  retires  from  the  gaze  of  mortals.  In 
three  or  four  days  from  the  commencement  of  the  spinning, 
the  worms  have  finished  their  cocoons  ;  and  in  seven  or  eight 
days  they  will  be  ready  for  gathering.  Gather  them  carefully, 
with  all  their  floss.  Then  take  this  off  with  great  delicacy  ; 
neither  flatten  nor  bruise  the  cocoon. 

Daily  loss  in  weight  of  cocoons  of  1,000  os.  from  the  time  of 
fermentation  until  the  moth  escapes  : 

Ounces. 

Gathered  and  cleaned 1,000 

First  day  following,  the  said  cocoons  weighed      991 

Second  day 992 

Third  day 975 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  59 

Ounces. 

Fourth  day 970 

Fifth  day 966 

Sixth  day  .......  960 

Seventh  day 952 

Eighth  day 943 

Ninth  day  934 

Tenth  day  .......  925 

It  is  a  loss  for  the  purchaser  of  cocoons  to  receive  those 
that  are  of  different  ages,  because  when,  in  some  cocoons,  the 
moth  is  preparing  to  come  forth,  while  others  are  not  so  for- 
ward, the  spinners  are  at  a  loss  whether  to  let  it  come  directly, 
or  to  kill  the  chrysalis  to  preserve  the  cocoon.  If  the  rules 
which  have  been  given,  be  exactly  followed,  this  loss  will  be 
avoided,  and  the  cocoons  will  be  perfectly  formed  and  ready 
to  be  reeled  off  at  the  end  of  seven  days,  reckoning  from  the 
day  they  first  rose  on  the  bushes  or  frames.  By  reeling  off 
the  cocoon  between  the  period  at  which  it  is  formed  and  that 
at  which  the  moth  pierces  the  cocoon  to  make  its  exit,  the 
silk  is  of  a  much  better  quality  and  the  necessity  of  killing 
the  chrysalis  is  obviated.  Spread  the  cocoons  intended  for 
seed,  on  a  dry  floor,  and  strip  them  clean  of  floss  to  prevent 
the  feet  of  the  moth  being  entangled  in  it  when  coming  out. 

The  Seventh  Age. 

This  age  completes  the  entire  life  of  the  moth.  When  the 
pupa  aurelia,  or  chrysalis,  has  completed  its  transformation  in 
the  cocoon  and  is  ready  to  depart,  it  puts  forth  a  liquid,  some 
affirm  an  acid,  to  dissolve  the  gum ;  and  having  softened  the 
point  through  which  it  intends  to  make  a  passage,  it  forces  its 
beak  through  the  fibres  of  the  cocoon,  and  with  two  or  three 
efforts,  makes  its  exodus  from  its  prison  into  open  day.  Some- 
time the  moth  does  not  injure  the  cocoon  from  winding ;  but 
it  generally  does  so,  and  such  cocoons  are  therefore,  usually 


60  Instruction  Book  in  the 

set  aside  for  floss,  to  be  carded  and  spun  like  cotton.  Some- 
times the  moth  gets  entangled  in  the  fibres,  or  the  cocoon  is 
too  hard  for  the  feeble  moth,  and  she  deposits  her  eggs  in  the 
cocoon  and  dies  there,  or  dies  before  this  deposit.  They 
should  always  be  left  alone  to  their  own  unasisted  efforts. 
Nature  will  do  more  for  them  than  art ;  and  if  a  few  should 
die,  that  few  will  be  less  than  if  the  operation  which  some  re- 
sort to  of  cutting  open  a  way  for  them  were  resorted  to. 

At  such  times,  the  cocoons  should  be  spread  thin  on  tables  ; 
their  natural  mode  is  to  put  forth  their  heads  and  legs  first,  as 
they  help  themselves  by  laying  hold  on  something  with  their 
feet  and  antennae,  to  drag  out  the  remainder  of  the  body. 
They  live,  after  leaving  the  cocoon,  from  five  to  twelve  days, 
according  to  the  temperature  to  which  they  are  exposed.  The 
moths  do  not  come  forth  the  first  and  second  days  ;  they  are 
hatched  chiefly  the  fourth,  fifth,  sixth  and  seventh  days,  accor- 
ding to  the  degree  of  heat  in  which  they  are  kept.  The  hours 
in  which  the  moths  burst  the  cocoons  in  greatest  number  are 
the  first  three  or  four  after  sunrise,  if  the  temperature  is  from 
sixty-four  to  sixty-six.  The  male  moths,  the  very  moment 
they  come  out,  go  eagerly  in  quest  of  the  female.  When  they 
are  united,  they  must  be  placed  on  sheets  of  newspapers  or 
some  such  thing,  so  that  when  soiled  they  may  be  thrown 
away. 

Preservation  of  the  Eggs. 

When  the  eggs  have  been  deposited  on  dry  cloths,  and 
have  passed  through  their  several  changes  of  color,  the  cloth 
or  paper  must  be  folded  so  as  to  admit  air  to  them  to  prevent 
them  from  heating.  The  air  should  be  dry,  not  above  fifty 
degrees  and  not  below  zero.  Some  think  they  should  not  be 
exposed  to  frost,  but  this  is  an  error ;  they  have  been  re- 
peatedly so  exposed  down  to  zero,  and  have  subsequently 
been  hatched  producing  an    abundant   crop.     It   is   sudden 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  61 

CHANGES  that  affect  the  egg.  Much  has  been  said  and  written 
upon  this  subject  by  men  professing  great  experience,  cer- 
tainly without  having  made  an  expenment.  If  the  eggs  can  be 
kept  between  thirty-two  and  fifty-five,  without  injury  from 
damp,  they  may  be  regarded  as  perfectly  sound.  They  must 
be  preserved  from  all  insects,  vermin  and  other  enemies,  since 
all  insects,  birds  and  vermin  greedily  devour  them.  Good 
keeping  will  produce  good  worms.  And  if  properly  treated,  they 
will  never  degenerate  in  this  climate. 

Stifling  the  Chrysalids. 

Where  the  quantity  of  cocoons  is  small,  the  necessity  of 
curing  may  be  superseded  by  immediate  reeling ;  or,  if  the 
culturist  has  on  his  premises  an  ice-house  in  which  to  deposit 
the  cocoons,  the  necessity  is  obviated,  as  the  chrysalis  will 
remain  in  a  passive  state  until  brought  to  a  temperature  of 
from  40  to  50.  This  system  is  advisable  where  practicable  ; 
since  stifling  by  baking  and  other  processes  is  in  some  degree 
injurious.  Otherwise,  the  moth^must  be  destroyed  between 
the  fourth  and  twelfth  day  at  furthest,  after  the  completion  of 
the  cocoon  ;  or  it  will  cut  its  way  through,  and  thus  render  the 
reeling  of  its  work  impracticable. 

There  are  several  methods  of  killing  the  pupa  :  ist.  By 
baking  in  an  oven  of  the  temperature  of  88  or  89  degrees, 
wherein  the  cocoons  are  shut  from  four  to  six  hours,  after 
being  first  placed  in  bags,  which  must  be  occasionally  turned 
or  moved  to  effect  an  equal  exposure.  2nd.  By  the  sun's  rays 
at  a  temperature  of  about  88,  in  which  they  may  be  left  for 
three  days,  from  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  to  4  P.  M.  3rd.  By  steam. 
For  this  purpose,  place  the  cocoons  in  a  basket  lined  with 
three  or  four  folds  of  woolen  cloth  to  promote  the  equal  dis- 
persion of  the  steam.  Suffer  the  cocoon's  to  remain  in  this 
basket  of  dimensions  such  as  to  cover  the  mouth  of  the  kettle. 


62  Instruction  Book. 

after  the  basket,  raised  on  two  pieces  of  intervening  wood,  has 
been  placed  over  the  kettle  with  water  kept  boiling  over  the 
fire.  4th.  By  suffocation  in  the  gas  from  charcoal,  which  is 
effected  by  simply  shutting  the  cocoons  up  for  a  night  in  a 
close  room,  wherein  a  pot  of  burning  charcoal  is  placed. 
This  process  is  said  to  be  the  least  injurious. 


PART  II. 


SERICULTURE. 


THE   SILKWORM— ITS    EDUCATION   AND   REPRO- 
DUCTION. 


ADDRESSED    ESPECIALLY   TO  BEGINNERS  IN  THE  SILK   BUSINESS. 


Written  by  Felix  Gillkt,  of  Nevada  City,  California. 

SILK  raising  is  indeed,  from  beginning  to  end,  a  work  so 
well  suited  to  feminine  fingers  that  in  all  countries 
where  Silk  is  raised  and  manufactured,  and  from  the  most 
remote  times  to  our  days,  that  industry  has  been  left  almost 
entirely  to  the  care  of  women.  See  what  the  Chinese  legend 
says  about  the  first  efforts  to  make  of  that  golden  thread  a 
tissue  for  us  to  wear:  "This  great  prince,  Hoang-ti,  who 
reigned  over  China  2602  years  before  our  era,  was  desirous 
that  Si-Ling-Chi,  his  legitimate  wife,  should  contribute  to  the 
happiness  of  his  people.  He  charged  her  to  examine  the  silk- 
worms, and  to  test  the  practicability  of  using  the  thread.  Si- 
Ling-Chi  had  a  large  quantity  of  these  insects  collected,  which 
she  fed  herself,  in  a  place  prepared  solely  for  that  purpose, 
and  discovered  not  only  the  means  of  raising  them,  but  also 
the  manner  of  reeling  the  Silk  and  of  employing  it  to  make 
garments." 


64  Instruction  Book  in  the 

"  It  is  through  gratitude  for  so  great  a  benefit,"  adds  the 
book  entitled  "  Wai-Ki,"  "  that  posterity  has  deified  Si-Ling- 
Chi,  and  rendered  her  particular  honors  under  the  name  of 
the  '  Goddess  of  Silkworms.'  " 

In  the  book  "  Li-Ki,"  which  dwells  on  ceremonies  and  rites, 
and  written  by  Khoung  Seu,  or  Confucius,  in  the  fifth  century 
before  Christ,  we  find  the  following :  "  During  the  last  month 
of  Spring,  the  empress,  after  having  fasted  and  gone  through 
the  act  of  purifying  herself,  offers  a  sacrifice  to  the  spirit,  or 
'  Goddess  of  the  Silkworms ;'  then  she  goes  in  the  fields 
towards  the  rising  sun,  and  gathers  the  Mulberry  leaves  with 
her  own  hands.  She  forbids  the  ladies  of  her  suite  and  the 
wives  of  noblemen  to  wear  any  jewelry,  and  she  exempts  her 
waiting  maids  of  any  sewing  or  embroidery  work,  so  that  they 
may  be  able  to  give  all  their  time  to  the  raising  of  silkworms." 

In  the  same  work  the  author  says :  "  By  means  of  charms, 
are  selected  the  ladies  of  the  three  palaces  and  the  noble 
ladies  that  are  pure  and  surrounded  by  happy  presages,  and 
they  are  then  sent  to  the  house  of  the  silkworms,  to  feed 
them  and  to  take  care  of  them." 

In  the  book  "  Chou-King,"  one  of  the  classic  books  of 
China,  we  read  :  "  On  the  first  day  of  the  moon,  in  the  first 
month  of  Spring  (March),  the  prince's  wife  takes  the  silkworm 
grain  to  the  river,  where  she  gives  it  a  cold  bath." 

In  the  work  entitled  "  Nong-Sang-Thong-Kioue,"  (year  48 
B.  C),  we  see  :  "  The  mother  of  the  Emperor  Youen-Ti  used 
to  visit  the  house  of  the  silkworms,  and,  accompanied  by  the 
empress  and  the  ladies  of  her  court,  she  would  pick  leaves  on 
the  mulberry  trees  for  feeding  the  worms." 

Under  the  Song  dynasty  (same  work,  and  between  the  years 
454  and  457,  A.  D.),  the  Emperor  Hiao-Wou-ti  had  a  silk- 
worm's house  constructed ;  the  empress  herself  was  gathering 
the  mulberry  leaves,  after  the  rites  of  the  Tsin  dynasty." 

The  Chinese  author  keeps  on  citing  numberless  facts  of  that 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  6S 

kind,  taken  from  the  history  of  the  succeeding  emperors  down 
to  the  years  968  and  976  of  the  Song  dynasty,  under  which 
he  was  living,  and  in  this  way  trying  to  show  the  mass  of  the 
people  that  from  the  most  remote  epoch  to  his  time,  the  em- 
press, to  give  the  example  to  the  whole  empire,  and  foster  that 
noble  industry,  would  herself  raise  silkworms. 

I  have  taken  the  pains  of  giving  the  public  those  few  ex- 
tracts of  Chinese  authors  because,  in  that  country,  silkworms 
have  been  raised  from  time  immemorial,  the  work  being  done 
almost  exclusively  by  women,  and  that  industry,  having  ever 
since  been  carried  on  successfully,  adding  immensely  to  the 
prosperity  of  China  and  to  the  happiness  of  her  people. 

Now  I  would  add  a  word  of  encouragement  to  the  women 
who  are  using  their  best  efforts  towards  founding  silk  culture 
on  this  side  of  this  continent,  so  eminently  adapted  for  it,  and 
in  a  way  that  will  give  unlimited  employment  to  thousands  of 
women  and  children.  Keep  on  with  your  noble  work;  do 
not  be  discouraged  by  difficulties  that  may  meet  you  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  work.  Do  not  expect  too  much  in  the  be- 
ginning— "great  trees  from  little  acorns  grow  ;"  rely  on  your- 
selves, and  try  your  hand  at  the  new  industry,  the  raising  of 
silk.  Giving  all  that  precedes  this  as  an  introduction  to  my 
subject,  I  will  now  describe 

The  Art  of  Raising  Silkworms 
In  as  clear  and  efficient  a  manner  as  an  experience  of  fifteen 
years  in  the  business,  and  a  thorough  study  of  the  question 
will  permit.  But  as  this  paper  is  written  expressly  to  the  ad- 
dress of  people  totally  ignorant  in  the  business,  people  of  small 
means,  and  who  cannot  raise  silkworms  but  on  a  small  scale, 
I  will  beg  more  enlightened  persons  in  that  art  to  take  this 
into  consideration  in  perusing  these  letters,  and  not  look  them 
through  for  such  information  on  the  carrying  on  of  the  busi- 
ness on  a  larger  scale,  as  would  necessitate  on  the  part  of  the 
writer  a  more  elaborate  and  lengthy  paper. 
5 


66  Instruction  Book  in  the 

I  will  first,  for  the  better  understanding  of  the  business  by- 
inexperienced  people,  give  them  some  explanations  of  terms 
commonly  and  universally  used  in  silk  culture: — 

Sericulture. — Silk  culture ;  the  art  of  raising  silkworms ; 
from  the  Greek  word  seriko?i,  silk  :  sericum,  in  Latin. 

Senculiuiist. — A  silk  grower;  a  person  who  raises  silk- 
worms. 

Cocoonery. — A  magnanerie ;  a  house  in  which  the  worms 
are  reared  or  raised.  No  matter  how  small  or  large  is  the 
house  or  room  where  silkworms  are  raised,  it  is  a  "cocoonery." 

Education. — The  act  of  educating  or  breeding  or  rearing 
silkworms.  A  term  of  general  use  in  silk-growing  countries. 
Examples  :  the  education  is  getting  along  finely ;  the  educa- 
tion commenced  on  the  15th  day  of  April  and  ended  on  the 
1st  of  June.  The  edu(;ation  of  silkworms  comprises  the  feed- 
ing and  treatment  of  the  worm,  from  its  birth  to  the  formation 
of  the  cocoon. 

Annuals. — Races  of  silkworms  that  breed  but  once  a  year. 
Yield  the  finest  and  largest  quantity  of  silk,  everything  being 
equal.     Annual  races. 

Bivoltine. — A  race  of  silkworms  that  breeds  twice  during 
the  year. 

Polyvoltine. — A  race  of  silkworms  that  have  several  broods 
a  year.  The  silk  of  Bivoltine  and  Polyvoltine  races  is  inferior 
to  that  of  Annuals,  yielding  a  great  deal  less,  and  in  this  pro- 
portion :  Twelve  pounds  of  Annual  cocoons  will  yield  one 
pound  of  raw  silk,  while  it  requires  from  18  to  25  pounds  of 
Bivoltine  or  Polyvoltine  cocoons  to  yield  a  pound  of  silk.* 
For  that  reason  such  cocoons  sell  so  much  per  cent,  cheaper 
than  Annuals. 

Litter. — The  accumulation  on  the  paper  or  frame  where  the 
worms  lay,  of  debris  of  dried  and  partly  consumed  leaves,  and 
of  the  offal  of  the  worms  themselves.     Thanks  to  our  very  dry 

*  This  weight  applies  to  fresh  cocoons  before  they  loose  weight  by  choking. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  67 

atmosphere,  the  litter  has  not  to  be  thrown  out  so  often  in 
California  as  in  other  silk-growing  countries,  where  the  atmo- 
sphere is  quite  damp  ;  though  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  keep  the  worms  in  as  clean  a  condition  as  possible. 

Shifting. — It  is  a  very  simple  operation,  done  either  for 
taking  away  the  litter  and  spreading  out  or  thinning  out  the 
worms.  It  is  done  through  muslin  or  gauze  for  the  first  two* 
ages,  and  perforated  paper,  or  leaves,  or  little  twigs,  for  the 
last  three  ages.  As  soon  as  the  muslin,  or  perforated  paper, 
or  twigs,  are  loaded  with  the  worms,  they  are  shifted  or  re- 
moved to  atiother  shelf  or  tray.  For  spreading  out  the  worms, 
the  operation  has  to  be  done  in  two  different,  but  successive, 
times  ;  or  else  two  pieces  of  muslin  or  perforated  paper  have 
to  be  laid  upon  the  worms  in  such  a  way  that  each  muslin  or 
paper  will  hold  half  of  the  worms  to  be  shifted  and  spread  out. 
As  soon  as  the  muslin  or  perforated  paper  is  laid  upon  th  e 
worms,  some  leaves  have  to  be  spread  over  muslin  or  paper, 
so  as  to  induce  the  worms  to  climb  up  through  the  holes  of 
the  muslin  or  paper  to  the  fresh  leaves  above.  The  worms  of 
one  paper  are  thus  spread  out  on  two  papers,  occupying 
double  the  space  they  did  before  the  shifting  operation  took 
place.  A  little  practice  will  soon  accustom  any  of  our  bright 
children  with  this  delicate  but  easy  operation. 

Shelves. — Trays  or  hurdles  composed  of  boards  (an  inch  to 
half  an  inch  in  thickness),  or  of  laths  nailed  sideways  on  cross- 
pieces,  and  forming  a  kind  of  lattice-work.  These  shelves  in 
regular  cocooneries  measure  five  feet  and  four  inches  by 
twenty-six  inches.  They  are  placed  on  cross-pieces  fastened 
to  upright  standards,  and  at  a  distsnce  of  two  feet  from  the 
floor,  and  sixteen  inches  from  each  other,  making  four  tiers  of 
s'lelves  in  a  room,  with  a  ten  to  an  eleven  foot  ceiling.  The 
upright  standards  are  placed  four  feet  four  inches  apart,  twice 
the  width   of  a  single   shelf,  so   as  to   allow  a  double   set   of 

*  Mosquito  netting  preferable  for  the  first  stages. 


68  Instruction  Book  in  the 

shelves,  the  worms  being  thus  fed  from  each  side.  A  narrow 
room  may  contain  only  a  double  set  of  shelves  right  in  the . 
centre  of  the  rooms ;  if  wide  enough,  it  may  contain  either  a 
double  set  of  shelves  in  the  micdle  and  a  single  set  on  each 
side,  with  a  passage  all  round,  or  else  two  double  sets  of 
shelves  with  a  passage  on  each  side. 

Moulting. — The  time  at  which  the  worms  accomplish  their 
changes.  When  ready  to  moult,  they  first  fasten  their  hind 
legs  to  anything  they  find  on  or  round  the  litter,  then  cease 
to  eat  and  after  having  gone  through  that  moulting  sleep, 
which  lasts  twenty-four  to  thirty-six  hours,  they  cast  off  their 
old  skins.     There  are  four  moultings. 

Ages. — Period  between  two  moultings  or  changes.  Silk- 
worms moulting  four  times  have,  therefore  five  ages.  If  raised 
at  a  high  temperature  (between  80°  and  85°  Fahr.),  and  fed 
constantly  day  and  night  every  four  or  five  hours,  silkworms 
will  live  thirty-two  days  from  the  day  of  hatching  to  the 
spinning  of  cocoons — the  first  age  lasting  five  days ;  the 
second,  four  days;  the  third,  six  days;  the  fourth,  seven 
days  ;  the  fifth,  ten  days, 

Freze. — The  time  of  great  greediness  of  the  silkworms  ;  it 
comes  on  between  the  fifth  and  eighth  day  of  the  fifth  age. 
It  is  well  to  give  the  worms  during  that  freze  time  some  extra 
meals,  or,  in  other  words,  to  feed  them  more  frequently. 

Chrysalis. — The  form  assumed  by  the  worm  inside  the 
cocoon  after  being  done  spinning,  and  preparatory  to  issuing 
a  moth  or  perfect  insect. 

Twin  or  Double  Cocoons. — They  are  easily  recognized  by 
their  extra  size  and  firmness  ;  they  have  from  two  to  several 
chrysalides  inside.  The  silk  obtained  from  such  cocoons  by 
carding,  for  they  cannot  very  well  be  reeled,  is  called  Doup- 
pions,  and  is  mostly  employed  for  the  mannfacturing  of  sew- 
ing silk,  cords,  trimmings,  and  the  like. 

Stained,  Softened,  Pointed  and  Unfinished  Cocoons. — As  all 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  69 

those  names  indicate,  such  cocoons  are  defective  in  some 
ways ;  they  have,  therefore,  to  be  set  in  a  lot  by  themselves 
when  sorting  the  cocoons. 

Grain. — Silkworm  eggs. 

Graining. — This  comprises  the  selecting  and  coupling  of 
the  moths,  the  laying  of  the  eggs  ;  in  a  word,  the  general 
management  of  the  eggs. 

Cartoon. — Cardboard,  paper  or  cloth  nailed  on  a .  frame 
14x10  inches,  and  on  which  the  moths  deposit  their  eggs.  It 
holds  an  ounce  of  grain. 

Filature. — A  reeling  establishment.  The  house  where 
cocoons  are  reeled  and  turned  into  grege. 

Basin. — A  hollow  vessel  made  out  of  copper,  brass,  iron  or 
terra  cotta  ;  semi-spheric,  of  a  depth  of  three  to  six  inches, 
wih  a  rather  flat  bottom  and  smooth  surface.  Basins  are  used 
to  dissolve  the  gummy  substance  that  makes  the  silk  of  the 
cocoon  stick  together.  By  throwing  cocoons  into  the  heated 
water  of  the  basin,  and  by  stirring  up  with  a  little  broom  the 
threads  are  caught  and  reeled  out ;  from  five  to  seven  cocoons 
according  to  the  fineness  of  the  silk,  are  thus  reeled  into  one 
thread. 

Gloss  Silk. — The  loose  silk  that  envelops  cocoons ;  it  is 
carded  and  spun  like  cotten  or  wool. 

Grege. — Raw  Silk  ;  the  Silk  as  it  is  reeled  from  the  cocoons. 

Tram. — Shute  or  woof;  two  or  three  threads  of  raw  Silk  or 
grege  twisted  loosely  two  or  four  times  to  the  inch.  In 
weaving,  the  woof  has  little  or  no  strain  upon  it,  and  it  fills  up 
the  warp  better  by  being  soft  and  loose. 

Organzine. — Thrown  silk ;  its  organizes  are  the  warps  of 
woven  goods  ;  they  have  to  receive  tight  twisting  to  induce 
strength  and  elasticity;  hence  the  finer  and  more  regular 
threads  are  taken  for  making  organzines. 


70  Instruction  Book  in  the 

Keeping  the  Grain,  and  Hatching  the  Same. 

Presuming  that  persons  intending  to  raise  silkworms  have 
procured  in  advance,  and  through  the  winter,  the  requisite 
quantity  of  grain,  I  will  first  say  a  few  words  in  regard  to  pre- 
serving the  same.  The  best  place  in  which  to  keep  silkworm 
grain  during  the  winter  is  in  a  room  overlooking  to  the  north, 
and  where  the  temperature  never  arises  above  50  degrees.  By 
the  i.st  of  March,  or  sooner,  according  to  localities,  or  as  soon 
as  the  temperature  of  the  room  where  the  grain  has  been  kept 
arises  above  50  degrees,  the  grain  has  to  be  removed  to  a 
cooler  place,  say  to  a  dry  cellar,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  rats, 
mice,  spiders  and  ants.  Should  the  cellar  be  somewhat  damp, 
the  grain  then  would  have  to  be  taken  out  once  a  week  and 
exposed  for  two  hours,  and  in  the  shade,  to  the  cool  air  of  the 
morning,  freezing  or  very  cool  weather  being  preferable.  Silk- 
worm grain  is  not  affected  at  all  by  moderate  cold  weather, 
like  15  to  20  degrees  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  improves  the  grain 
considerably  to  expose  it  during  the  winter  to  the  cold  in- 
fluence of  the  atmosphere. 

Before  going  any  further,  I  would  like  to  impress  upon  the 
minds  of  our  young  or  would-be  sericulturists  the  importance 
of  having  the  education  finished  before  the  usual  hot  spell  in 
June.  For,  in  California,  even  with  her  "  splendid  climate" 
and  *'  wholesome  food,"  a  temperature  at  and  above  88  degrees 
is  as  mortal  or  prejudicial  to  the  worms  as  it  is  in  any  other 
country  where  silkworms  are  raised ;  for  such  maladies  as 
jaundice  and  grasserie  will  surely  break  out  among  the  worms 
wherever  the  temperature  ot  the  cocoonery  is  increased  to 
that  degree.  It  is,  therefore,  of  the  first  importance  to  com- 
mence hatching  as  soon  as  the  swollen  buds  of  the  mulberry 
are  bursting  open,  throwing  out  their  first  leaves.  The  suc- 
cess of  the  whole  education  does,  in  fact,  greatly  depend  upon 
a  good  and  early  start ;  this  must  be  well  borne  in  mind. 

When  hatching  time  is  near  at  hand,  and  after  having  con- 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  71 

suited  the  condition  of  the  buds  on  the  mulberry  trees  in 
preference  to  the  exact  date  given  in  treatises,  the  grain  is 
taken  out  from  the  cellar  and  placed  temporarily  and  for  only 
a  few  days  in  any  of  the  rooms  of  the  house  exposed  to  the 
south,  to  be  finally  removed  to  the  kitchen.  The  kitchen, 
with  the  small  Silk  grower,  may  be  in  fact  regarded  as  the 
hatching  place  par  excellence.  The  grain  is  placed  on  a  shelf 
or  in  a  closet,  out  of  the  reach  of  mice,  and  at  the  farther  end 
from  the  stove,  to  be  taken  by  degrees  and  every  day  closer 
to  the  stove,  though  being  kept  at  a  proper  distance  from  it. 
When  having  much  grain  on  hand  it  is  well  to  keep  some  in 
reserve  in  the  cellar,  in  case  of  some  accident  happening  to 
the  grain  put  to  hatch  in  the  kitchen,  or  of  a  sudden  frost 
killing  the  newly  opened  buds  on  the  trees.  The  kitchen,  be- 
sides being  the  best  place  where  to  hatch  the  grain,  is  also 
admirably  adapted  for  raising  the  worms  during  the  first,  if 
not  second,  age,  they  taking  but  little  room  during  those  two 
ages.  The  worms  that  do  appear  on  the  first  day  are  gener- 
ally thrown  away,  on  account  of  being  so  few  ;  they  may  be 
called  the  forerunners  of  the  hatching,  and  I  would  suggest  to 
keep  them,  for  by  having  such  an  advance  on  the  worms 
hatched  on  the  three  succeeding  days,  they  enable  us  to  bet- 
ter tell  when  moulting  time  is  coming  with  the  other  worms. 
Then  they  make  the  best  grain,  as  being  always  the  most 
healthy  and  vigorous  worms  of  the  whole  lot.  On  the  sec- 
ond, third  and  fourth  day  will  the  bulk  of  the  worms  be 
hatched,  the  balance  of  the  grain  may  then  be  thrown  away. 
All  the  worms  hatched  on  the  same  day  have  to  be  kept  apart 
and  placed  simply  on  papers,  say  half  of  a  single  sheet  of 
newspaper  or  any  paper  that  will  hold  them,  with  the  date  put 
down  on  the  margin  of  the»paper.  It  is  very  important  to 
keep  separate,  during  the  whole  education,  worms  of  the  same 
hatching,  because  of  their  changes  or  moultings,  which  are 
not  accomplished  at  the  same  time. 


72  Instruction  Book  in  the 

The  moment  the  young  worms  make  their  appearance,  they 
at  once  look  for  food  ;  so,  very  tender  leaves  have  to  be  placed 
about  the  frame  holding  the  eggs,  and  the  little  worms  will 
soon  crawl  on  them.  When  the  leaves  are  thus  well  covered 
with  worms,  they  are  transferred  with  their  precious  loads  to 
a  paper  duly  marked  1st,  2d,  3d  or  4th  day,  and  there  they 
are  fed  at  the  rate  of  four  meals  a  day,  say  one  meal  every 
four  hours  commencing  at  about  7  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Feeding  the  Worms. 

After  the  worms  are  all  hatched,  the  education  may  be  re- 
garded as  fairly  started.  During  that  first  age,  which  gener- 
ally lasts  five  days,  the  worms  have  to  be  fed  with  tender 
leaves  yet,  such  as  the  second  and  third  ones  of  young  sprouts; 
but  any  variety  of  mulberry  will  do  as  long  as  the  leaves  are 
tender,  and  it  is  mere  nonsense  to  recommend  at  that  early 
period  of  the  insect's  life  this  or  that  variety. 

Alway  cut  up  the  leaves  for  feeding  young  worms,*  and  use 
a  sharp,  clean  knife,  being  careful  not  to  chop  off  with  the 
leaves  the  tip  of  your  fingers.  During  the  first  age  the  leaves 
have  to  be  cut  quite  fine,  less  than  }i  of  an  inch  ;  during  the 
second  age  from  ^  to  I-  of  an  inch,  during  the  third  age  ^ 
of  an  inch ;  from  the  fourth  age  down  to  spinning  time,  they 
are  served  entire,  unless  too  large  ;  in  that  case  the  leaves  are 
cut  from  }4  of  an  inch  to  one  inch.  The  object  of  cutting  up 
the  leaves  is  to  enable  the  educator  to  scatter  them  evenly  so 
that  each  worm  will  be  sure  to  have  its  proportion  of  food  ; 
then  by  feeding  the  worms  equally,  they  grow  equally,  too, 
and  accomplish  their  various  moultings  at  the  very  same  time, 
which  is  a  most  important  point,  saving  thereby  a  great  deal 
of  labor  and  trouble;  and  it  ca:tinot  be  impressed  to  much 
upon  the  minds  of  our  beginners.  On  the  fifth  day  of  that 
first  age,  the  little  worms  have  to  be  closely  watched  ;  an  ex- 

*  The  cutting  of  the  leaves  for  young  worms  is  very  important. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  73 

perienced  eye  will  see  at  a  glance  whether  they  are  ready  or 
not  to  "  sleep,"  preparatory  to  casting  off  their  skins.  When 
the  worms  are  ready  for  that  moulting  sleep,  they  cease  eat- 
ing, keep  still,  and  over  their  little  black  head  appears  a  spot 
like  a  half  moon,  the  new  head;  this  is  the  most  remarkable 
feature  to  announce  that  the  worms  are  going  through  that 
moulting  sleep.  While  undergoing  that  change,  they  "must 
not  be  fed  at  all ;  it  does  not  matter  whether  some  of  the 
worms  are  not  ready  for  it  yet.  The  newly  moulted  worms 
must  not  be  given  a  first  meal  before  all  the  worms  are  done 
with  shedding  their  skins.  The  worms  must  not  be  thinned 
or  spread  out,  or  the  litter  thrown  out — shifted,  in  a  word — 
when  they  are  getting  ready  for  their  moulting  sleep  ;  and  it 
must  not  be  done,  either,  right  after  they  are  done  moulting, 
but  next  day.  All  those  little  points  have  their  importance, 
as  a  season's  experience  will  show  to  any  of  our  young  seri- 
culturists.  All  that  is  said  for  this  first  age  of  the  insect's  life 
in  regard  to  moulting,  applies  with  equal  force  to  the  other 
four  ages. 

No  wet  or  damp  leaves  must  be  given  to  the  worms  ;  if 
rainy,  the  leaves  may  be  gathered  right  in  the  morning  and 
put  to  dry  on  the  floor  of  the  cocoonery  ;  if  too  wet  yet  when 
meal  time  comes  on,  they  must  be  dried  gently  with  a  cloth, 
before  giving  them  to  the  worms.  Otherwise  it  would  cer- 
tainly be  better  to  give  the  worms  on  such  a  rainy  day  two 
meals  with  dried  leaves  than  four  meals  with  wet  leaves.  It 
must  also  be  borne  in  mind  that  cleanliness,  regularity  in  the 
meals,  evenness  in  feeding  are  most  essential  points  to  bring 
the  education  to  a  successful  close.  It  will  take  about  forty 
days  for  worms  fed  four  times  a  day  at  four  hours'  intervals, 
and  at  an  average  temperature,  to  be  ready  to  spin  their  co- 
coons ;  it  will  take  less  time  if  the  meals  are  more  frequent, 
and  if  the  worms  are  fed  night  and  day.  A  silkworm  having 
to  absorb  from  hatching  to  spinning  time  a  given  quantity  of 


74  Instruction  Book  in  the 

leaves,  whether  he  absorbs  it  in  32,  40  or  50  days,  it  is  im- 
material, but  he  must  have  consumed  that  quantity  of  leaves 
to  spin  a  cocoon.  Four  meals  a  day,  however,  commencing 
at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning,  come  right  so  as  not  to  hinder  the 
farmer's  wife,  who  is  supposed  to  superintend  the  education, 
with  her  daily  occupations,  like  dinner  and  supper,  on  the 
farm.  By  commencing  at  7  o'clock,  the  worms  have  thus  to 
be  fed  next  at  1 1  o'clock,  then  at  3  o'clock,  and  7  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  At  that  time  of  the  year  work  crowds  up  a  good 
deal  on  a  farm,  hence  the  education  of  silkworms  must  be 
made  as  light  as  possible. 

Spinning  Cocoons. 
When  arrived  at  maturity,  the  worm  ceases  to  eat,  gets 
smaller,  becomes  transparent,  and  of  a  pale  yellow,  and  finally 
gives  out  its  silk,  which  it  spreads  out  here  and  there,  raising 
up  its  head  at  the  same  time,  as  if  to  reach  something.  All 
this  means  that  spinning  time  has  come  ;  and  as  soon  as  some 
of  the  worms  give  such  signs  and  wander  about  in  search  of 
some  nook  or  corner  wherein  to  spin  their  cocoons,  then  has 
the  time  come,  too,  to  provide  them  with  a  place  where  to 
build  their  precious  little  nests.  In  regular  cocooneries,  they 
use  shelves  made  of  strips  of  wood  one-fourth  of  an  inch  by 
five-eighths  of  an  inch,  nailed  one  and  one-eighth  inches  apart, 
sideways,  on  cross  pieces  five-eighths  of  an  inch  square ;  and 
on  the  other  side,  the  same  number  of  strips  are  nailed,  in  the 
same  manner,  on  the  cross  pieces,  but  so  as  to  correspond 
with  the  center  of  the  space  between  two  strips  of  the  first 
side,  thus  forming  a  triangle  inside  the  strips  of  the  shelf  with 
two  sides  one  inch  and  one-half  long,  and  the  third  side  one 
inch  and  one-eighth ;  that  is  what  is  called  "  cocooning 
shelves."  They  are  the  most  handy  and  neat  things  of  that 
kind  ever  invented.  The  silkworm  finding  in  that  triangle 
composed  of  three  strips,  three  standings,  just  what  it  wants 
to  spin  its  cocoon,  goes  to  work  at  once,  without  wasting  any 


Art  of  Silk  Culture,  75 

more  silk.  Ladders,  called  "  cocooning  ladders,"  are  made 
on  the  same  principle  ;  they  are  put  in  place  every  fourteen 
inches,  as  soon  as  the  worms  are  getting  ready  to  spin,  and 
fastened  with  a  little  screw  or  a  peg  to  the  strip  set  at  the 
edge  of  the  shelves,  to  prevent  the  worms  from  falling  off  the 
shelves.  The  worms  climb  up  the  ladder  to  the  upper  shelf, 
into  the  racks  of  which  they  spin  their  cocoons.  Some  of  the 
worms,  weak  or  lazy,  spin  right  into  the  racks  of  the  ladder. 
But  with  our  beginners  and  small  silk  growers,  who  use 
simply  boards  for  shelves,  something  else  has  to  be  resorted 
to.  Sheaves  of  straw,  wild  mustard  cut  before  the  seed  is 
ripe,  boughs  of  willow,  twigs  of  white  oak  with  the  leaves  on 
and  dried  in  the  shade,  bunches  of  wheat  or  rye  straw,  etc., 
can  very  well  be  used,  but  they  have  to  be  kept  in  readiness  a 
couple  of  weeks  before  spinning  time. 

It  will  take  four  days  for  a  silkworm  to  finish  its  cocoon, 
and  another  three  days  to  pass  into  the  chrysalis  state.  So 
they  must  not  be  gathered  before  eight  days,  and  not  before 
twelve  to  fourteen  days,  if  the  cocoons  are  destined  for  grain- 
ing. If  to  be  sold  for  the  silk,  cocoons  may  be  gathered  on 
the  ninth  day  after  the  last  worm  has  gone  up  to  spin ;  and 
by  exposing  them  for  three  or  four  days  to  the  sun,  the 
chrysalis  will  be  killed  and  pretty  well  dried  up,  and  unable 
to  stain  or  injure  the  silk  with  the  putrid  matter  of  their 
decayed  bodies.  Cocoons,  when  having  to  be  kept  a  certain 
length  of  time  before  being  sold,  have  to  be  stored  away  out 
of  reach  of  mice  and  rats,  and  of  moths,  too,  which  would 
perforate  the  cocoons  with  their  larvae. 

Graining. 
This  is  the  last  and  not  the  less  important  stage  of  the  whole 
education.  For  the  purpose  of  graining,  either  for  market  or 
merely  to  save  eggs  for  the  reproduction  of  the  worms,  the 
cocoons  have  to  be  carefully  selected.  The  best  cocoons  are 
those  that  are  hard  to  the  touch,  depressed  on  the  middle — 


76  Instruction  Book  in  the 

that  is,  pea-nut  shaped — firm  at  each  end,  of  a  light  yellow 
color,  and  of  a  rather  coarse  grain — that  is,  to  the  eye.     If, 
besides,  the  cocoons  are  large,  so  much  the  better;  otherwise, 
smaller  cocoons  with  the  above  requisites  would  be  preferable. 
The  floss,  or  loose  silk,  having  been  properly  stripped  from 
the  cocoons,  they  are  then  placed  in  hollow  boxes  of  any  size, 
about  three  tiers  in  each  box,  and  in  a  room  where  nothing 
may  disturb  or  injure  the  chrysalis  soon  ready  to  emerge  from 
the  cocoon  as  perfect  insects  ;  fifteen  to  twenty  days,  accord- 
ing to  the  weather,  after  the  cocoons  have  been  commenced, 
do  the  moths  emerge  out  from  their  temporary  tomb.     They 
always  come  out  of  the  cocoons  early  in  the  morning,  just 
after  sunrise,  between  six  and  eight  o'clock.     The  male,  which 
is  more  active  than  the  female,  seeks  at  once  the  latter  for  the 
purpose  of  reproduction.     As  soon  as  paired,  they  are  taken 
by  their  wings  to  sheets  of  paper  spread  on  some  of  the  shelves 
for  that  purpose ;  and  those  that  are  not  paired  are  laid  aside 
by  themselves  on  another  paper  and  removed  by  the  others 
as  soon  as  paired.     They  have  to  be  coupled  the  whole  day, 
when  between  four  and  five  o'clock  in  the  evening  they  have 
to  be  gently  separated.     The  males  are  put  temporarily  in  a 
box  with  the  cover  punctured  so  as  to  admit  air ;  they  acting 
as  a  reserve  for  next  morning  in  case   of  more  females  than 
males  hatching  out.     The  females,  after  being  separated,  are 
removed  to  a  cloth  nailed  to  the  wall,  where  very  soon  they_ 
will  deposit  their  eggs.     Cloth  is  preferable  to  paper,  for  the 
eggs  laid  on  cloth  can  be  given  a  cold  bath  in  February  or 
March,  and  the  grain  might  be  taken  off,  if  desired,  by  dipping 
the  cloth  in  cold  water  and  scraping  off  the  eggs  with  a  table 
knife.     The  sound  eggs  will  sink  at  once  to  the  bottom  of  the 
vessel  used  for  that  purpose,  while  the  bad  ones  will  float  over 
the  water  and  be  easily  separated  from  the  good  eggs,  which 
are  put  on  a  cloth  to  dry  right  in  the  room. 
The  eggs  laid  just  after  separating  the  sexes  are  considered 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  77 

the  very  best.  The  moths  have  to  be  kept  in  a  rather  dark 
room,  they  being  night  butterflies,  and  during  this  moth  life 
they  require  no  food. 

Diseases  of  the  Silkworm. 
Flacherie,  or  blight,  is  the  stumbling  block  of  Silk  Culture 
nowadays.  Everything  seems  to  get  along  well  with  the 
education  ;  hatching  went  through  splendidly ;  the  worms 
accomplished .  their  various  changes  simultaneously,  without 
the  least  trouble ;  they  kept  on  eating,  moulting,  growing  as 
nicely  as  could  be  expected,  always  in  good  health,  and  finally, 
got  through  their  last  moulting  in  a  body ;  they  now  get 
rapidly  large ;  they  are  now  three  inches  long,  fat,  firm, 
healthy,  eating  voraciously ;  four  or  five  days  more,  and  they 
will  all  be  ready  to  spin.  But,  on  a  sudden,  they  commence 
fading  and  withering  without  any  apparent  cause,  and  in  a 
very  short  time  lay  on  the  shelves,  corpses  !  It  is  the  dreaded 
flacherie,  or  "  blight,"  the  scourge  of  the  cocooneries,  and 
which  for  the  last  twenty  years  has  baffled  the  science,  know- 
ledge and  intelligence  of  the  most  experienced  sericulturists 
of  Europe.  This  terrible  disease,  which  always  breaks  out 
after  the  last  moulting,  during  the  fifth  age,  and  just  when  the 
silk  grower  is  gone  to  reap  the  benefit  of  his  trouble,  com- 
mences with  a  kind  of  numbness  ;  the  worms  cease  to  eat, 
leaving  the  litter  and  wandering  about  as  if  to  escape  ;  they 
soon  die,  having  yet  every  appearance  of  health.  This 
flacherie,  which  prevails  to  such  a  large  extent  among  the 
annual  races  of  Europe,  does  not  affect  so  much  those  more 
hardy  races  of  Japan,  that  is,  on  the  first  year,  hence  the  reason 
why  Japanese  grain  is  imported  into  those  countries,  though 
the  yield  of  silk  from  them  is  far  below  that  of  the  precious 
annual  races  of  France  and  Italy.  The  quality  of  the  food, 
defective  ventilation,  atmospheric  changes,  and  so  forth,  have 
been,  but  wrongly,  suspected  to  be  the  direct  cause  of  flacherie, 
and  to-day  that  mysterious  disease  which  causes  such  havoc 


78  Instruction  Book  in  the 

among  all  silkworms,  is  yet  an  unsubdued  disease.  Science 
has  given  it  up  and  left  it  to  the  practical  sericulturist  who 
cling  to  it  despairingly,  hoping  for  something  to  turn  up  to 
get  rid  of  the  scourge.     Flacherie  is  regarded  as  an  epidemic. 

Pebrine. — This  is  a  different  disease  altogether  from  flacherie. 
Pebrine  generally  breaks  out  among  the  worms  after  the  sec- 
ond moulting,  that  is  in  the  third  age  ;  in  that  way  it  does  not 
prove  so  bad,  for  it  saves  us  all  the  trouble  and  expense  to 
raise  the  worms  to  almost  spinning  time,  as  it  is  the  case  with 
flacherie.  Pebrine  is  indicated. by  black  spots  on  the  worm, 
and  the  caudal  appendage  looks  like  it  had  been  burned. 
Pebrina,  an  Italian  word  for  pepper,  is  very  expressive,  indeed, 
of  the  appearance  of"  the  worms  attacked  by  that  disease;  for 
they  look  like  having  been  "  peppered  "  with  coarse  black 
powder  all  over  the  body.  The  worms  afflicted  with  that 
malady  have  to  be  taken  out  and  buried  in  the  manure  pile  or 
the  ground  ;  sometimes  all  the  worms  have  to  be  thrown 
away.  For  twenty  years  have  silkworms  been  decimated  by 
pebrine,  but  since  the  last  ten  years  it  has  almost  disappeared, 
but  to  make  place  to  a  worse  malady  yet.  Flacherie,  or 
blight,  may,  therefore,  be  considered  as  the  prevailing  disease 
among  the  silkworms,  and  the  direct  cause  of  nine-tenths  of 
the  failures  all  over  the  world. 

Jaundice. — This  is  only  an  incidental  disease,  easily  to  be 
prevented.  The  best  way  of  preventing  the  breaking  out  of 
jaundice  is  to  "  effect  early  hatchings."  The  cold  weather  and 
atmospheric  changes  are  not  injurious  to  the  worms,  as  long 
as  the  heat  is  moderate ;  but  oppressive  or  excessive  heat  that 
cannot  be  controlled,  is  the  direct  cause  of  jaundice.  That 
disease,  like  flacherie,  generally  breaks  out  in  the  last  age,,  a 
few  days  before  spinning  time.  The  disease  is  first  detected 
near  the  thoracic  rings  of  the  insect's  body,  that  is,  near  the 
head,  those  rings  swelling  up  and  taking  a  light  yellow  tint; 
it  then  spreads  to  the  rings  of  the  body,  and  in  the  same  man- 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  79 

ner ;  and  in  two  or  three  days  the  skin  gets  kind  of  shiny, 
tight  and  yellow  between  the  rings,  at  the  stigma  (little  aper- 
tures on  the  side  of  the  body  to  admit  air  to  the  tracheae)  and 
to  the  legs.  The  worm  so  affected  keeps  on  eating,  however, 
and  to  swell  up  until  at  last  the  skin  will  burst  in  several 
places,  and  a  yellow  liquid  flows  out,  staining  the  litter  and 
the  healthy  worms  with  that  viscid  yellow  fluid.  This  malady 
cannot  be  cured.  The  best  way  is  to  pick  out  all  the  worms 
affected  with  it  and  throw  them  out  to  the  chickens.  When 
caused  by  excessive  heat,  a  change  in  the  weather  will  check 
it  at  once. 

Grasserie. — Hypertrophy,  or  inal  del  grasso,  as  the  Italians 
call  it;  enlargement  of  the  body  caused  by  perturbations  in 
the  perspiration  of  the  insect.  This  disease  breaks  out  at  the 
different  ages,  and  before  the  last  moulting.  The  worms 
affected  by  it  get  kind  of  fatty,  white,  unctuous  ;  and  in  the 
last  two  ages  they  still  keep  on  swelling  up,  and  move  round 
with  difficulty.  Some  trouble  in  the  transpiration  of  the  in- 
sect, caused  by  bad  ventilation  or  bad  air,  is  said  to  be  the 
direct  cause  of  grasserie.  This  maladj^  has  some  resemblance 
to  jaundice.  A  thorough  ventilation  and  change  of  air  will 
prevent  the  breaking  out  of  the  disease. 

Besides  flacherie,  pebrine,  jaundice,  and  grasserie,  there  are 
other,  but  incidental,  diseases  that  do  affect  the  worms  more 
or  less ;  and  which  it  is  well  for  beginners  to  be  also  ac- 
quainted with.  An  occasional  worm  may  be  affected  with 
consumption,  its  organs  not  being  sufficiently  developed. 
Such  maladive  worms  have  to  be  taken  away  and  thrown  out. 

Then  there  is  what  the  Italians  very  properly  call  the  Lus- 
tnni ;  as  the  name  indicates  it;  worms  so  affected  look  kind  of 
glossy.  They  keep  small  and  do  not  accomplish  their  moult- 
ing in  due  time,  some  in  fact  not  accomplishing  it  at  all. 
Such  worms  can  also  be  well  recognized  by  their  little  black 
head,  which,  with   the  glossiness  of  the   body,  are    the  main 


80  Instruction  Book  in  the 

symptoms  of  that  anomalous  condition.  They  have  to  be 
picked  out  and  thrown  away,  for  they  never  will  spin  a 
cocoon.  A  pair  of  tweezers  is  the  most  handy  thing  to  pick 
out  such  little  worms. 

Worms  that  are  unable  to  shed  their  skins  must  either  be 
helped  out  or  thrown  away. 

Sluggards  are  not  affected  with  any  disease ;  but  they  must 
all  be  removed  on  separate  papers  ;  and  as  many  papers  as 
there  are  broods. 

Ants,  mice,  lizards,  spiders,  and  yellow  jackets  have  also  to 
be  guarded  against,  for  they  are  all  very  fond  of  the  fat,  ten- 
der, succulent  silkworm. 

The  malady  of  the  lustrini  is  generally  caused  by  a  too  large 
accumulation  of  worms  on  the  shelves  ;  it  is  to  say  that  the 
worms  have  to  be  thinned  or  spread  out  at  proper  times.  It 
is  also  a  very  wrong  and  bad  practice  to  raise  in  a  room  a 
larger  number  of  worms  than  the  room  permits.  It  is  almost 
sure  to  create  such  diseases  as  the  lustrini,  grasserie,  jaundice 
and  others. 

I  will  now,  to  render  more  complete  and  comprehensive  my 
description  of  the  education  and  reproduction  of  the  silkworm, 
give  our  young  sericulturists  a  handful  of  hints,  suggestions, 
facts  and  figures,  bearing  directly  upon  that  subject,  and  that 
will  give  theiii  a  fuller  and  clearer  understanding  of  the  whole 
business,  and  of  everything  else  pertaining  to  Silk  and  silk- 
worms. 

The  mulberry  is  not  very  sociable ;  it  does  not  like  the 
proximity  of  other  trees  ;  which  means  that  it  is  better,  wher- 
ever it  can  be  done,  to  have  the  trees  planted  by  themselves, 
and  far  enough  apart. 

Mulberry  trees  for  silkworm  feeding  must  not  be  planted  on 
swampy  land,  nor  too  close  to  water  courses ;  "  the  rocky  sides 
of  the  hills  to  the  mulberry,  and  the  wet  soil  of  the  valleys  to 
the  poplar,"  says  an  old  Chinese  ode.     In  other  words,  the 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  81 

mulberry  must  not  be  planted  on  the  land  best  suited  for  the 
poplar;  and  on  hill-sides  and  poor  land  the  mulberry  will 
yield  the  best  and  healthiest  leaves. 

The  leaves  of  the  mulberry  must  be  free  of  dust  when 
served  to  the  worms  ;  and  when  too  dry,  as  is  sometimes  the 
case  with  some  varieties  in  summer,  it  is  well  to  sprinkle  them 
slightly  with  water. 

Let  it  be  well  borne  in  mind  that  silkworms  will  succeed 
best  in  those  light  structures  made  of  wood  or  still  lighter 
material,  in  the  cane  and  bamboo  shanties  of  China  and  Japan, 
in  the  cabins  of  the  Egyptians,  in  the  open  sheds  of  the  Per- 
sians, in  the  kitchens,  hardly  closed  and  smoky,  of  the  French 
and  Italian  peasant,  than  in  comfortable  houses  or  costly  co- 
cooneries furnished  with  the  latest  modern  improvements. 

A  good  start  is  of  the  very  first  importance  ;  to  have  a  good 
start,  one  must  have  good  grain.  Good  grain  is  the  corner 
stone  of  a  good  education.  The  best  grain  is  that  obtained 
from  moths  issued  from  the  first  cocoons  spun,  or  from  the 
first  moths  hatched  and  those  that  are  hatched  between  3  and 
7  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  healthiest  worms  are  those  first  hatched.  Always  cut 
up  the  leaves  during  the  first  three  ages,  from  very  fine  to  fine, 
and  from  fine  to  coarse,  keeping  up  with  the  worms'  growth. 
After  the  worms  have  been  fed  for  two  days  after  hatching, 
the  cut  leaf  that  has  not  been  consumed  will  make  as  many 
little  hills,  upon  which  the  worms  lie  tgo  close  together,  and 
as  they  must  never  be  allowed  to  crowd  up,  the  litter  has  to 
be  carefully  spread  out,  with  the  worms  on  it,  so  as  to  give  the 
latter  more  space.  This  is  done  at  meal  times,  for  the  worms 
have  to  be  fed  immediately  after  the  operation,  cut  leaves  be- 
ing made  to  fill  up  the  interstices, between  the  scattered  litter. 
This  operation  is  repeated  at  the  other  ages  whenever  needed. 
Never  keep  the  worms  too  crowded  or  thick  together  on  the 
papers.  After  the  fourth  moulting  one  square  foot  must  be 
6 


82-  Instruction  Book  in  the 

allowed  to  every  hundred  worms  (but  at  that  age  the  worms 
occupy  the  whole  space  upon  the  shelves),  overcrowding  be- 
ing liable  to  create  disease. 

Having  once  put  the  worms  on  hard  food,  that  is,  upon 
well-matured  leaves,  the  use  of  young  and  tender  leaves  must 
never  be  reverted  to  again. 

Silkworms  are  more  in  dread  of  hot  weather  than  cold 
weather  ;  if  properly  fed  they  can  stand  very  severe  cold 
weather.  When  it  is  cold,  however,  the  silkworm  has  less 
appetite,  three,  or  even  two,  meals  a  day  would  be  sufficient  ; 
though  the  education  will  last  so  much  longer.  Never  forget 
to  remove  worms  of  doubtful  health. 

Give  to  the  worms  the  freest  possible  ventilation.  Silkworms 
do  not  relish  the  sun's  rays  ;  but  air  that  gets  into  the  room 
through  crevices  will  never  create  disease  among  them.  For, 
if  the  precious  insect  has  need  of  a  sort  of  shelter,  particularly 
in  its  young  age,  it  must  not  be  an  "  air  extinguisher."  In 
China,  at  the  Fall  of  the  year,  and  before  the  Mulberry  leaves 
turn  yellow  on  the  trees,  a  certain  quantity  of  them  is  gath- 
ered, dried  in  the  shade  and  pulverized.  They  are  then  pre- 
served in  a  very  dry  room,  where  fire  is  generally  kept  during 
the  winter.  They  are  used  the  ensuing  year  as  food  for  the 
worms,  as  follows  :  "  After  each  moulting,  and  for  four  or  five 
meals,  the  flour  of  pulverized  leaves  is  evenly  sifted  upon  the 
fresh  leaves,  which  have  been  previously  lightly  sprinkled 
with  water  and  served  to  the  worms.  It  feeds  the  latter  well 
and  helps  them  to  spin  a  heavy  cocoon  whose  Silk  thus  ac- 
quires a  remarkable  strength  and  elasticity.  If  heating  the 
silkworms'  room  when  too  cold  and  damp  in  the  spring  is  re- 
quired, it  ought  to  be  done  at  the  time  the  worms  are  fed,  the 
fire  being  allowed  to  go  out  after  they  are  done  eating. — 
Chinese  precept. 

Right  after  hatching,  the  worms  weigh  ^  of  the  weight  of 
the  egg,  leaving  ^  of  the  whole  weight  for  the  shell. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


Japanese  eggs  weigh 
or  a  metric  ounce  (the  American  ounce  is  28  grams)  of  French 
and  Italian  animals  grain,  contains  42,000  eggs,  while  the  same 
quantity  of  Japanese  grain  contains  60,000  eggs. 

The  worms  that  hatch  from  30  grams  of  grain,  will  con- 
sume during  the  ist  age,  8  pounds  of  leaves  ;  2d  age,  24  ;  3d 
age,  55  ;  4th  age,  243  ;  5th  age,  1,335  to  3,350  pounds.  It  is, 
therefore,  well  to  reckon  upon  an  average  of  2,335  pounds  of 
leaves  for  30  grams  of  grain. 

For  the  same  quantity  of  grain,  the  worms  give  during  their 
life-time  almost  500  pounds  of  offal,  which  constitutes  the  best 
manure  for  Mulberry  trees. 

The  thread  of  a  fine  French  annual  cocoon  will  measure  as 
much  as  1,350  yards.  Two  hundred  and  thirty-four  of  first 
quality  French  or  Italian  annual  cocoons,  will  weigh,  fresh, 
before  killing  the  chrysalis,  one  pound  ;  while  it  requires  342 
Japanese  annual  cocoons  to  weigh  that  much.  When  diseases 
rage  among  the  silkworms,  it  requires  twice  as  many  cocoons, 
so  little  Silk  do  they  produce. 

Perforated  or  pierced  cocoons  lose  80  per  cent,  of  their 
weight ;  the  chrysalis,  thus,  weighs  four  times  as  much  as  the 
silky  envelop,  or  cocoon  proper. 

Four  pounds  of  Japanese  green  cocoons  will  give  about  one 
pound  of  dried  cocoons. 

Female  worms,  cocoons,  and  moths,  weigh  ten  per  cent, 
more  than  males.  Before  the  epidemics  that  have  been  raging 
for  over  thirty  years,  cocoons  did  yield  one-tenth  of  their 
weight  in  Silk  of  first  quality ;  twelve  pounds  of  second  class 
cocoons  were  required  for  one  pound  of  silk.  Nowadays,  the 
best  Japanese  cocoons  (the  only  kinds  that  can  be  raised  in 
Europe  with  some  profit,  on  account  of  the  reigning  epidemic) 
yield  one-fifteenth  of  silk,  and  Polyvoltine  races  one  twenty-fifth. 

Bivoltine  and  Polyvoltine  are  easily  transformed  into  An- 
nual races,  and  vice  versa.     The  best  grain  is  that  first  laid. 


84  Instruction  Book  in  the 

The  best  female  moth  will  lay  from  400  to  700  eggs ;  1,350 
eggs  weigh  one  twenty-eighth  of  an  ounce;  37,800  eggs,  an 
ounce;  618,800  eggs,  one  pound. 

Good  grain  used  to  cost  in  France  and  Italy  from  forty  to 
sixty  cents  per  ounce,  that  is  before  pebrine  and  flacherie  had 
broken  out  among  the  worms.  Now,  grain  from  Japan,  the 
only  country  that  can  produce  grain  able  to  stand  against  the 
epidemic,  sells  at  the  rate  of  five  dollars  per  ounce  of  twenty- 
five  grains. 

The  production  of  silk  in  dollars,  before  the  epidemic  broke 
out  in  1858,  was  reported  as  follows  all  over  the  world  : — 

Chinese  Empire, |8i,ooo,ooo 

Japanese  Empire,      17,000,000 

Corean  Archipelago, 1,000,000 

Turkistan  (in  China), 400,000 

Turkistan  (Independent), 1,400,000 

Persia, 5,000,000 

Asia  Minor, 5,250,000 

Syria, 1,900,000 

Turkey  in  Europe, 7,000,000 

Greece,  Ionian  Islands, 850,000 

France 29,900,000 

Italy, 39,800,000 

Pontifical  States, i  ,300,000 

Spain  and  Portugal, 3,250,000 

Morocco,  Algeria,  Tunis,  Mediterranean  coast, 300,000 

Basin  of  the  Danube,  Austria,  Bavaria,  Servia,  Hungary,  .  80,000 

India, 24,000,000 

America, 80.000 

Total, $219,510,600 

Since  that  year,  1858,  the  production  of  silk  in  all  the 
countries  of  Europe,  in  Asia  Minor,  Syria,  and  the  whole 
Mediterranean  coast,  America,  and  some  parts  of  Asia,  on 
account  of  the  epidemic,  has  fallen  a  great  deal  below  the 
above  figures. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  85 


Profit  of  Growing  Silk. 

How  much  money  is  there  in  it ;  or,  in  other  words,  how 
much  could   a  small   family  expect  by  raising  silkworms  ? 
That  is  the  question — the  main,  fundamental  requisite  to  make 
of  this  State  a  silk-growing  country,  par  excellence.     Will  the 
business  pay  ?     For,  though  the  climate  may  be  exceptionally 
good,  the  food  of  the  very  best  quality,  still,  if  people  cannot 
find  in  it  remuneration  enough  for  their  labor  and  outlays — 
little  as  that  may  be — it  would  be  useless,  indeed,  even  to  be- 
gin, and  on  a  small  scale,  to  raise  silkworms.     In  former  let- 
ters on  this  very  subject,  I  have  constantly  warned  our  people, 
if  they  would  avoid  disappointment,  against  indulging  in  too 
fond  and  sanguine  expectations  regarding  this  silk  business. 
I  advocated  then,  as  I  always  did,  and  still  do,  the  raising  of 
silkworms  on  a  small  scale ;  that  is,  household  silk  culture. 
I  furthermore  advised  our  silk-growers  to  give  up  the  idea  of 
making   money  by  the  sale   of  silkworm  grain,  for  the  very 
reason   that  California   grain  had   been  thoroughly  tested  in 
years  past,  and  also  found  wanting  ;  that   is,  unable,  like   all 
the   rest,   to    stand   against    the    present  epidemic,    flacherie, 
which  to  this  day  has  baffled  the  skill  of  the  most  renowned 
scientists  and  sericulturists.     I  said  it  yesterday,  I  say  it  again 
to-day,  I  will  repeat  it  to-morrow,  in  the  hope  that  my  feeble 
voice  may  be  heard  and  my  advice  heeded  by  those  people 
who  are   unknowingly  deluding  themselves   in  expectations 
that  cannot  be  realized,  and  which  I  consider  the  duty  of  the 
better-informed  people  to  dispel.     I  will  therefore  insist  more 
earnestly  than  ever  on  the  folly  of  raising  silkworms   in  the 
hope  of  finding  a  ready  market  for  the  grain.     Even  supposing 
that  such  a  market  could  be  found,  how  long  would  that  grain 
trade  last?     So  I  do  assert,  and  without  any  fears  of  being 
contradicted,  that  the  only  consistent   way  of  founding  this 
silk  industry  in  California,  is  to  raise  silkworms  solely  for  the 


86  Instruction  Book  in  the 

silk.     Let  every  one  desirous  of  launching  into  the  business 
be  thoroughly  impressed  with  the  truth  of  that  assertion. 

Thus  is  the  question  simply  narrowed  to  this :  If  raising 
silkworms  for  the  Silk,  how  much  can  be  expected  from  the 
sale  of  cocoons,  and  where  shall  we  find  a  market  for  what  we 
produce  ?  But  this  is  a  double  question.  Where  shall  we 
find  a  market  for  our  cocoons,  is,  however,  the  main  question 
of  the  two ;  for  whether  we  be  more  or  less  successful  in  rais- 
ing silkworms,  we  must  first  have  a  market  for  our  cocoons, 
with  prices  more  or  less  remunerative,  or  else  we  had  better 
give  up  the  business,  or  never  get  into  it.  On  the  other  hand, 
to  get  remunerative  prices  for  the  cocoons  we  would  raise,  we 
must  certainly  have  a  home  market,  cocoons  being  too  bulky 
and  too  fragile  a  merchandise  to  be  shipped  away  with  profit 
to  a  distant  market.  Now,  to  have  a  home  market  for  that 
class  of  goods,  I  maintain  that  we  must  have  a  "home  fila- 
ture," oi  reeling  factory,  where  cocoons  may  be  turned  into 
grege,  or  raw  silk ;  and,  if  an  organzine  mill  be  attached  to 
it,  have  the  silk  thrown  into  organzine,  for  which  there  is  an 
always  ready  market.  Would  people  be  satisfied  with  the 
prices  given  for  their  cocoons  by  such  filatures,  then  would 
the  problem  be  satisfactorily  solved,  provided  that  we  would 
be  "  successful  "  in  raising  silkworms — that  is,  French  annuals, 
the  only  paying  kinds  for  us  to  raise;  and  I  should  not  be 
over-confident  on  that  point,  either,  considering  the  general 
failure  all  round  with  those  fine  races  of  silkworms  since  the 
epidemic  broke  out.  The  first  steps  to  be  taken,  ought,  it 
seems  to  me,  to  be  toward  the  establishing  of  a  filature  in  our 
midst;  short  of  that,  our  efforts,  I  am  afraid,  will  be  almost 
futile.  As  a  filature  could  not.be  self-supporting  at  the  start, 
who  will  provide  for  its  support  till  our  farmers  are  ready  to 
supply  it  with  the  raw  material  or  cocoons  ?  This  is  another 
question  for  all  parties  interested  to  determine,  A  filature  of 
twenty  bassins  would  require  about  33,000  pounds  of  cocoons, 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  87 


or  the  cocoons  produced  by  350  ounces  of  grain  (French 
annuals).  Supposing  now  that  we  could  have  a  filature  in  our 
midst  ready  to  buy  our  cocoons,  the  next  question  is  :  How 
much  will  they  pay  for  a  pound  of  fresh  cocoons  ?  how  much 
for  a  pound  of  dried  cocoons  ?  Fresh  cocoons  would  probably 
fetch  from  fifty  to  sixty-five  cents  per  pound,  or  260  cocoons 
of  the  French  annual  races,  healthy,  sound,  firm  cocoons,  as 
are  hardly  raised  anywhere  nowadays,  always  on  account  of 
that  everlasting  epidemic,  which,  if  it  does  not  sweep  away  the 
worms,  at  least  renders  them  weak  and  unable  to  spin  heavy 
eocoons  ;  so  much  so,  that  it  will  be  wiser  to  reckon  on  400 
cocoons  to  the  pound.  Dried  cocoons  would  fetch  in  the 
proportion  of  one  to  four  ;  that  is  four  times  as  much  as  fresh 
cocoons,  since  cocoons  lose  by  drying  eighty  per  cent,  of  their 
weight;  or  from  ^2.00  to  ;^2.50  per  pound  (1.050  to  1,600 
cocoons). 

Pierced  cocoons,  if  quite  clean,  will  fetch  ^1.25  to^i.5oper 
pound  for  carding,  right  at  the  factory,  not  at  the  shipping 
place. 

A  farmer's  family  may  raise,  according  to  its  size  and  that 
of  the  room  alloted  to  silkworms,  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand 
worms  ;  or,  if  the  education  would  be  quite  successful,  from 
30  to  70  pounds  of  fresh  cocoons,  which  at  the  average  rate 
ot  60  cents,  would  fetch  from  ;^i8  to  $42.  I  do  not  mean  to 
say  that  a  farmer's  family  could  not  raise  more  than  that ;  I 
have  only  reference  to  the  average  farmer.  If,  having  a  room 
large  enough  for  that  purpose,  a  farmer's  family  may,  of  course, 
raise  easily  from  50,000  to  75,000  worms,  including  the  gath- 
ering of  the  leaves.  The  above  figures  show  that  I  was  right 
in  my  first  estimates  in  putting  down  at  from  ^10  to  ;g  100  what 
any  farmer's  family  could  reasonably  expect  by  raising  silk- 
worms. 

Conclusion. 

In  this  paper  on  the  silkworm,  how  to  succeed  in  founding 


Instruction  Book. 


upon  this  coast  that  beautiful  industry,  and  what  we  have  to 
expect  from  this  business,  new  to  so  many  of  us,  I  have  told 
the  people,  and  in  very  plain  language,  too,  all  the  truth  about 
it.  Let  nobody  think  for  a  moment  that  I  have  been  grinding 
it  too  fine.  By  following  my  advice,  none  will  have  to  regret 
it  ;  none  will  experience  that  bitter  disappointment  and  loss  of 
money,  as  will  surely  be  the  case  if  going  at  it  blindly,  plant- 
ing acres  of  Mulberry  trees,  raising  silkworms  in  large  quan- 
tities, launching  into  the  grain  business — in  a  word,  deluding 
oneself. 

To  all  those  beginners  that  have  not  the  least  knowledge^ 
or  very  little,  in  the  art  of  raising  silkworms,  I  say,  go  at  it 
slowly,  feel  your  way  first,  plant  only,  for  a  start,  a  few  Mul- 
berry trees,  and  plant  them  where  they  may  be  an  ornament 
to  your  place,  or  where  they  will  never  be  in  the  way  after- 
ward, in  case  that  you  would  make  up  your  mind  not  to  raise 
any  more  silkworms.  Commence  by  raising  but  a  few  worms, 
say  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred ;  learn,  first,  all  those 
little  things  about  silkworms  that  cannot  be  properly  learned 
but  by  a  little  practice,  and  as  soon  as  you  have  acquired  an 
inside  knowledge  of  the  business,  then  it  will  be  time  for  you 
to  increase  the  quantity  of  grain  to  hatch  and  worms  to  raise, 
but  only  as  far  as  your  means  will  allow,  never  going  any 
farther.  And  if  by  going  into  the  business  little  by  little,  you 
finally  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  does  not  pay  you  for  all 
your  trouble,  you  will  have  then  the  satisfaction  of  having  in- 
curred no  loss  of  money  to  speak  of,  or,  what  is  better,  not 
experienced  that  bitter  disappointment  concerning  your  most 
fond,  but  unrealizable  expectations. 


PART   III. 


DIRECTIONS    FOR  THE    MANAGEMENT   OF  A 
COCOONERY. 


By  W.  C.  Kkhr,  State  Geologist,  North  Carolina, 


I.  Hatching. 

THE  eggs  are  usually  kept  at  the  temperature  of  ice  until 
hatching  time.  When  removed  from  the  ice,  put  in  a 
cool  place  two  or  three  days,  so  that  they  may  be  brought 
gradually  to  the  temperature  of  the  air.  As  soon  as  the  Mul- 
berry leaves  have  begun  to  open,  spread  the  eggs  on  clean 
white  paper;  an  ounce  will  require  a  square  foot  of  surface. 
The  temperature  should  be  about  70°,  and  may  be  gradually 
increased  1°  or  2°  a  day,  to  75°  or  80*'.  They  will  hatch 
usually  in  five  days,  but  the  higher  the  temperature  the 
sooner  the  hatching.  The  worms  will  commonly  hatch  out 
in  the  morning,  for  three  or  four  successive  days.  When  the 
hatching  begins,  spread  over  them  mosquito  netting  or  per- 
forated paper,  and  when  the  morning's  hatch  has  crawled 
through,  remove  to  the  (frame,  or)  platform,  marking,  and 
keeping  each  day's  hatch  separate.  Better  use  the  net  for  the 
first  age,  and  the  paper  afterwards. 


90  Instruction  Book  in  the 

II.   Feeding. 

The  worms  should  be  fed  as  soon  as  hatched  and  removed, 
by  sprinkh'ng  young  and  tender  leaves  over  the  net  or  paper; 
repeat  the  feeding  every  two  hours  during  the  first  age,  and 
afterwards  every  three  or  four  hours.  In  general,  give  the 
first  feed  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  the  last  at  ten  or 
eleven  at  night.  Before  each  feeding  spread  a  net  or  paper 
over  the  worms  and  place  the  leaves  on  it.  About  every  two 
days,  lift  the  net  with  the  worms  to  a  new  frame  and  remove- 
the  litter.  The  space  must  be  increased  as  the  worms  grow, 
so  as  to  avoid  crowding.  They  will  need  double  space  the 
second  day.  To  accomplish  this,  in  feeding,  when  about  half 
the  worms  have  come  through  the  net  or  paper,  remove,  and 
place  a  second  paper  with  leaves  for  the  remainder  ;  in  the 
same  way  the  space  may  be  trebled  by  removing  one-third  at 
a  time.  The  leaves  should  be  spread  evenly,  so  that  the 
worms  may  get  the  same  amount  of  food  and  keep  together 
in  their  growth,  as  it  is  important  to  have  them  moult  together. 

The  leaves  must  be  fed  fresh  and  dry,  7iever  wet  or  wilted ;- 
leaves  wet  with  dew  are  especially  injurious.  Gather  the 
leaves  in  the  evening,  for  the  next  morning's  meal,  and  when 
rain  threatens,  gather  a  day  ahead  and  keep  in  an  airy,  cool 
place,  stirring  occasionally  to  prevent  heating,  and  fermenta- 
tion, which  will  ruin  them.  If  only  wet  leaves  can  be  had, 
dry  them  by  shaking  up  before  a  fire,  or  in  a  breezy  place. 
When  food  is  scarce,  lower  the  temperature  of  the  room,  and 
the  worms  will  eat  less. 

For  young  worms,  gather  only  the  small  leaves.  After  the 
second  age,  small  twigs,  or  branches,  may  be  cut  with  the 
leaves.  For  this  purpose  use  a  knife,  or  better,  clip  with 
pruning  shears.  Gather  in  a  basket,  or  better,  in  a  bag  tied 
about  the  waist. 

The  quantity  of  food  consumed  increases  very  rapidly.  The 
worms  are  said  to  consume  their  own  weight  of  leaves  daily. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  91 

The  worms  from  an  ounce  of  eggs  will  require  about  one 
pound  of  leaves  the  first  day,  two  pounds  the  second,  three  or 
four  the  third;  after  that  the  quantity  diminishes  as  the  time 
of  molting  approaches. 

After  the  second  or  third  age,  the  net  (or  paper)  and  frame 
may  be  discarded,  and  the  leavy  twigs  or  branches  with  the 
worms,  may  be  placed  on  the  platforms  directly.  The  suc- 
cessive feedings  of  twigs  are  spread  evenly  on  the  old  ones 
until  the  mass  is  piled  up  four  or  five  inches  to  the  next  tier 
of  pins  or  nails,  then  lay  a  new  set  of  five  bars  or  sticks,  with 
the  food  on  these,  and  when  the  worms  have  ascended,  drop 
out  the  lower  tier  with  its  litter  and  remove. 

In  using  a  second  or  third  tier  over  the  first,  as  C,  C,  C,  C, 
Fig.  I,  {page  py,)  it  is  necessary  to  place  beneath,  on  a  couple 
of  bars,  B,  B,  B,  B,  cloth  or  boards  to  catch  the  leaves  and 
litter  from  above. 

The  utmost  cleanliness  being  necessary,  the  litter  should 
be  removed  often,  especially  during  the  last  three  ages,  as 
well  as  all  dead  and  sick  worms.  The  consumption  of  food 
is  enormous  during  this  age,  the  hatch  from  an  ounce  of  eggs 
requiring  about  fifty  pounds  the  first  day,  and  by  the  fourth 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  double  that  amount  the  fifth,  sixth 
and  seventh,  after  which  the  quantity  falls  to  about  one 
hundred  pounds  for  the  eighth  day,  but  the  quantity  depends 
on  the  vigor  of  the  worms,  and  the  temperature. 

During  this  last  age  the  closest  attention  is  necessary  and 
the  amount  of  labor  is  greatly  increased.  During  the  earlier 
ages  a  woman,  or  half-grown  child  can  attend  to  the  worms, 
and  a  man  or  boy  in  one  or  two  hours,  two  or  three  times  a 
day,  can  supply  the  leaves  required  for  the  worms  from  an 
ounce  of  eggs  ;  and  even  during  the  last  age,  one  person  is 
sufficient  in  the  cocoonery,  and  one  to  gather  the  leaves  for 
the  hatch  of  half-a-dozen  ounces  of  eggs  or  more,  with  the 
apparatus  above  described. 


92  Instruction  Book  in  the 

III.    Moulting. 

When  the  time  for  their  sleep  approaches,  the  worms  lose 
appetite  and  raise  their  heads  with  a  waving  motion.  When 
any  of  the  worms  of  a  batch  are  seen  in  this  state,  give  a  light 
fresh  feed  to  hurry  up  the  tardy  ones.  During  their  torpor 
they  eat  nothing.  As  soon  as  their  skin  is  shed  their  activity 
and  appetite  return.  This  process  is  usually  over  in  about 
thirty  hours.  No  food  should  be  given  until  about  all  of  the 
batch  are  through  the  moult  and  ready  to  make  an  even  start ; 
or,  if  the  last  are  much  delayed,  give  a  light  feed  to  the  first, 
and  feed  the  last  more  copiously,  and  keep  them  warmer  for 
a  day  or  so,  that  they  may  overtake  the  first.  This  rule  need 
not  be  observed  after  the  fourth  moult. 

After  moulting,  the  space  will  generally  need  to  be  doubled. 
If  the  worms  come  out  of  their  torpor  in  a  feeble  state,  with 
little  appetite,  especially  in  the  younger  ages,  cut  the  leaves 
for  the  first  feed  or  two  with  a  sharp  clean  knife,  like  shredded 
tobacco. 

IV.  Spinning. 

When  ready  to  spin,  which  is  eight  or  ten  days  after  the 
fourth  moult,  the  worms  cease  to  eat,  become  restless  and  empty 
themselves,  diminish  in  size,  becoming  transparent,  beginning 
at  the  head.  When  any  of  them  are  observed  in  this  stage,  give 
a  light  fresh  feed  to  bring  forward  the  laggards.  And  as  soon 
as  they  begin  to  emit  silky  fibre,  take  the  frames,  Fig.  2,  {page 
g8,)  that  were  used  to  hold  the  young  worms,  tie  together  two 
and  two,  bottom  to  top,  set  upright  on  their  edges,  a,  a,  a,  orb, 
b,  b,  with  the  slats  of  one  opposite  the  intervals  of  the  other, 
upon  the  platforms,  among  the  worms.  They  will  use  these 
as  ladders  and  crawl  up  between  the  slats  to  spin.  Or  instead 
of  these,  dry  branching  twigs,  two  or  three  feet  long,  or  broom 
corn  or  weeds  may  be  used,  setting  them  upright  among  the 
worms,  and  inter-locking  them   in  arches  above.     If  any  of 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  93 

the  worms  fail  to  mount,  remove  them  on  the  leaves  or  twigs 
to  which  they  are  attached,  lest  they  be  soiled  by  droppings 
from  above  them. 

The  spinning  is  finished  in  three  days.  As  the  worms  begin 
to  spin,  see  that  no  two  of  them  spin  too  near  each  other  and 
make  double  cocoons,  which  cannot  be  reeled. 

To  sum  up,  the  points  requiring  special  attention  are  : 
I.  Keeping  the  worms  of  a  batch  in  a  uniform  state  of  pro- 
gress so  that  they  will  all  moult  together.  2.  Abundance  of 
fresh,  dry  food,  except  during  the  moult.  3.  Plenty  of  room, 
so  that  the  worms  shall  not  crowd  each  other.  4.  Plenty  of 
fresh  air,  5.  Uniform  temperature,  as  nearly  as  practicable, 
and  avoidance  of  sudden  changes.     6.  The  utmost  cleanliness. 

V.  Gathering  and  Sorting  the  Cocoons. 

In  eight  or  ten  days  after  the  commencement  of  the  spin- 
ning, the  cocoons  are  ready  to  gather.  Separate  the  frames  or 
arches  of  brush  carefully.  Remove  first  all  discolored  and 
soft  cocoons,  keeping  these  seperate  from  the  firm  sound  ones  ; 
if  kept  together  the  latter  would  be  discolored  and  depreciated 
much  in  value.  Tear  off  the  loose  (floss)  silk  which  envelopes 
the  cocoon. 

VI.  Choking,  or  Stifling  the  Chrysalids. 

In  twelve  or  fifteen  days  from  the  time  the  worm  began  to 
spin,  the  moth  will  issue  from  the  cocoon,  and  in  the  process 
the  strands  of  Silk  will  be  cut  and  spoiled.  To  prevent  this, 
the  chrysalis  must  be  killed — stifled.  This  is  commonly  and 
best  accomplished  by  steaming ;  but  as  that  is  troblesome, 
and  difficult  without  proper  appliances,  in  our  climate  the 
stifling  may  usually  be  effected  by  exposing  the  cocoons  to 
the  hot  sunshine  from  9  o'clock  till  4,  for  two  or  three  days. 
A  longer  time  is  needed  if  there  is  much  air  stirring,  or  the 
sunshine  is  not  strong.     And  the  process  is  surer  if  conducted 


Instruction  Book  in  the 


in  a  shallow  box  under  glass,  with  a  crevice  for  the  escape  of 
moisture.  In  either  case,  guard  against  ants.  The  stifling 
should  be  attended  to  as  soon  as  the  cocoons  are  gathered, 
lest  cloudy  weather  should  intervene.  In  this  case  (and  per- 
haps better  in  any  case,)  the  result  may  be  reached  by  pack- 
ing the  cocoons  in  a  barrel  carefully  lined  with  paper,  so  as  to 
be  nearly  air-tight,  with  alternate  sprinklings  of  camphor, 
roughly  granulated  in  the  hand,  beginning  with  camphor  on 
the  bottom,  then  3  or  4  inches  of  cocoons,  again  camphor, 
and  so  on,  finally  closing  the  barrel  for  two  or  three  days  ; 
using  about  a  pound  of  camphor  to  the  barrel. 

COCOONS. 


After  three  or  four  days,  spread  the  cocoons  on  boards  or 
shelves  to  dry  in  an  airy  room  or  attic,  stirring  frequently  the 
first  two  or  three  days,  and  afterwards  occasionally,  for  about 
twb  months,  when  they  will  be  thoroughly  dry  and   may  be 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  9S 

packed  for  market.  Guard  must  still  be  kept  against  rats  and 
mice,  ants  and  smaller  insects,  which  will  penetrate  the  chry- 
salids  and  injure  the  Silk.  The  latter  may  be  expelled  by  a 
sprinkling  of  camphor  or  other  insectifuge  drugs,  or  by  the 
bark  of  sassafras  root,  or  chips  of  red  cedar,  tobacco  stems, 
etc.,  etc. 

VII.   Reeling. 

This  process  cannot  be  readily  understood  without  instruc- 
tion with  a  reel  ot  filature.  The  price  of  the  Silk  is  doubled 
by  reeling,  and  as  there  are  whole  months  of  idle  time  of 
women  and  children  on  an  ordinary  farm  in  a  year,  which 
might  be  turned  to  good  account  in  this  way,  it  is  very  desir- 
able that  the  machinery  and  the  process  should  be  generally 
understood. 

VIII.    Egg  Raising. 

There  is  at  present  more  profit  in  raising  eggs  for  the  markets 
of  France,  Italy  and  this  country,  than  in  making  cocoons  of 
reeled  Silk.  The  female  moth  lays  300  to  400  eggs,  and  an 
ounce  will  be  produced  by  every  200  to  250  moths.  The 
worms  from  an  ounce  of  eggs,  which,  as  has  been  stated,  will 
yield  from  35  to  40  pounds  of  dried  or  stifled  cocoons,  at  from 
90  cents  to  ^1.15  per  pound. 

IX.    Markets  and  Prices. 

There  is  a  good  market  in  this  country  for  reeled  silk,  at 
Paterson,  New  York,  and  elsewhere,  and  of  cocoons  and  eggs, 
if  well  tested  as  to  quality.  The  Women's  Silk  Culture  As- 
sociation, 1328  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia,  will  take  all  that 
are  sent  them,  and  pay  regular  market  rates  for  same.  Eggs, 
however,  must  be  received  at  the  owner's  risk  of  hatching,  as 
after  April  1st  they  are  in  daily  risk  of  hatching,  and,  if  not 
sold,  the  association  are  not  responsible. 


96  Instruction  Book  in  the 


GENERAL  INFORMATION. 


I.    The  Silkworm. 

.  I.  The  Egg. — An  ounce  of  eggs  contains  40,000,  and  this 
number  of  worms  will  produce  100  to  120  pounds  of  fresh 
cocoons  (or  one-third  of  that  weight  of  dry.)  An  ounce  (or 
even  a  quarter  of  an  ounce)  is  sufficient  for  a  beginner  for  an 
experiment.  They  are  readily  sent  by  mail.  The  cost  is 
about  five  dollars  an  ounce. 

2.  Ages. — The  silk  caterpillar  casts  its  skin  four  times,  at 
intervals  of  5,  4,  6,  6  and  8  days,  after  a  short  sleep  or  rest; 
this  change  of  skin  is  called  moulting,  and  the  interval  between 
two  moults  an  age ;  the  life  of  a  worm,  from  hatching  to 
spinning,  is  about  thirty  days,  a  few  days  more  or  less, 
according  to  the  decrease  or  increase  of  temperature  and 
supply  of  food. 

On  the  approach  of  the  sleep  or  torpor,  the  worm  ceases 
to  eat,  and  becomes  motionless,  with  raised  head. 

II.  Food. 

The  silkworm  eats  and  thrives  on  a  great  variety  of  food  ; 
the  leaves  of  the  lettuce,  common  (or  black)  mulberry,  the 
osage  orange,  etc.,  but  the  white  (often  miscalled  "  English  ") 
mulbery  furnishes  the  best  silk. 

III.  Room. 

Any  sort  of  house  or  room  may  be  used  as  a  cocoonery, 
for  hatching  and  raising  silkworms,  provided  it  is  well- 
lighted,  well-aired,  and  can  be  kept  tolerably  uniform  in  tem- 
perature by  a  stove  ;  fire  will  be  needed  on  cool  nights  and 
rainy  days.  Direct  sunshine  should  be  excluded,  which  may 
be  done  by  tacking  white  paper  or  cloth  over  the  sash  on 
the  sunny  sides  of  the  room.     For  a  small  crop,  a  room  on 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


97 


the  north  side  of  the  house  is  better,  for  avoiding  excessive 
heat.  Ventilation  should  be  secured  from  the  upper  part  of 
the  room,  to  avoid  direct  drafts  upon  the  worms.  A  close 
hot  air  is  injurious,  and  any  sudden  or  great  change  of  tem- 
perature. Cleanliness  is  very  important.  Rats  and  ants 
must  be  excluded,  as  they  are  very  fond  of  the  silkworm 
larva.     The  odor  of  smoke  and  tobacco  are  fatal. 

IV.  Apparatus. 

Both  room  and  apparatus  should  be  arranged  to  secure,  as 
nearly  as  may  be,  the  same  conditions  which  the  worm  finds 
on  the  tree.  Any  frame,  or  platform,  or  structure,  therefore, 
which  will  allow  the  freest  circulation  of  air,  from  below,  as 
well  as  on  all  sides,  and  the  ready  removal  of  litter  and  stale 
leaves,  will  answer.  Perhaps  the  best  appliance  in  use  for 
this  purpose  is  that  represented  by  the  accompanying  diagram, 
Figure  i.  For  information  about  this  improvement  I  am  in- 
debted to  Mr.  E. 
\n  Fasnach.       It    has 

been  recently  adop- 
ted extensively  in 
France,  from  the 
Italian  silk  cultu- 
rists  of  a  little  pro- 
vince (FrioulJ  on 
the  North  Adriatic 
near  Trieste.  To 
the  floor  and  ceil- 
ing (or  joists)  are 
fastened  a  succes- 
sion of  parallel  sets 
of  five  uprights, 
bars  or  sticks 
(which   be    i}^,   2 


Fig.  I. 


98 


Instruction  Book  in  the 


or  3  inches  thick) ;  two  of  these  sets  are  represented  as  touch- 
ing the  floor  at  1,2,  3,  4,  5  and  6,  7,  etc.  The  uprights  are 
about  one  foot  apart  in  the  sets,  and  the  sets  running  the 
length  of  the  room,  about  five  feet  apart,  and  the  whole 
should  be  not  less  than  two  feet  from  the  wall.  The  uprights 
have  sloping  pins  or  nails  driven  into  them  4^  or  5  inches 
apart.  On  these,  as  at  A,  A,  A,  A,  and  C,  C,  C,  C,  are  laid 
a  series  of  five  bars  or  sticks,  and  across  these  little  rods  or 
straight  twigs  ;  the  first  of  these  platforms  may  be  five  or  six 
inches  from  the  floor,  and  the  next,  C,  C,  C,  C,  say  two  or 
three  feet  above  that,  and  so  on,  as  high  as  one  chooses  to 
go ;  but  two  are  as  many  as  can  be  easily  managed  without 
steps.  On  these  platforms  are  placed  the  papers  or  frames 
containing  the  young  worms,  up  to  the  third  (or  fourth)  age, 
and  after  that  the  twigs  or  small  branches  of  mulberry 
leaves  with  the  worms.  Note  that  all  the  timber  of  both 
room  and  apparatus  must  be  seasoned. 

The  papers  containing  the  young  worms  may  be  laid  on 
these  platforms  directly,  but  it  is  perhaps  better  to  use  frames 
like  that  represented  in  Fig.  2.     The  bars  A  A  and  B  B  are 
„         three-quarters  of  an  inch  thick,  the   cross 
slats  or  laths,  a  b,  are  half  an  inch  thick,  an 
inch  (or  less)  wide,  and  an  inch  apart.     It 
is  better   to    make   these 
frames  two  and  a  half  feet 
by   five,   so    that   two    of 
them   will  occupy,  cross- 
wise, one  platform  of  Fig. 
I. 

The  only  additional  ap- 
paratus needed  is  perfora- 
in    Fig.    3,  and  netting 


Fig.  2. 

ted  paper,  as   seen 

(mosquito  or  other)  about  the  size  of  the 

frames,  for  the  younger  stages  of  the  worms. 


Fig.  3' 


Art  of  Silk  Culture. 


The  paper  should  have  some  strength  and  stiffness,  so  that  it 
can  be  lifted  with  the  worms  on  it-  without  huddling  them. 
A  good  quality  of  merchants'  wrapping  paper  will  do.  The 
perforations  of  the  size  and  distance  apart  shown  in  Fig.  3, 
may  be  made  rapidly  by  a  common  belt  punch,  by  folding 
the  paper  ten  or  a  dozen  thicknesses. 

V.     The  Mulberry. 

The  white  mulberry  is  easily  propagated.  It  flourishes  best 
in  light  sandy  or  gravelly  soils.  One  full-grown  tree  will  yield 
200  to  300  pounds  of  leaves.  Two  hundred  trees  may  be 
planted  on  an  acre  of  land.  In  three  years  they  will  yield, 
under  fair  conditions  of  soil  and  cultivation,  ten  to  twelve 
pounds  of  leaves  each,  or  more  than  two  thousand  pounds  to 
the  acre.  Eighteen  hundred  pounds  suffice  for  an  ounce  of 
eggs;  that  is,  will  produce  100  to  120  pounds  of  fresh  co- 
coons. At  seven  or  eight  years  the  yield  will  be  ten  fold. 
Trees  suitable  for  transplanting  and  cuttings,  can  be  had  from 
The  Women's  Silk  Culture  Association,  and  also  from  many 
nurseries. 


PART   IV. 


:Ei:Ej^jEi,XJsrG-  the   siXiKz^woiaiM: 


THOSE  who  wish  to  engage  in  the  culture  of  silk,  though 
not  extensively,  need  not  incur  the  expense  of  building  a 
cocoonery.  The  worms  may  be  fed  in  a  shed,  barn,  out- 
house, or  any  place  where  they  will  be  protected  from  the  sun 
and  rain.  A  free  circulation  of  air,  and  entire  cleanliness  in 
their  apartments,  are  absolutely  requisite.  They  will  not 
prosper  near  to  decomposing  animal  or  vegetable  bodies,  nor 
in  an  atmosphere  rendered  impure  by  any  cause  whatef^er  ; 
and  the  smoke  of  tobacco  is  peculiarly  offensive  to  them. 
The  wood-cut  in  this  number  {pao;e  no)  represents  the  inter- 
nal arrangements  of  our  cocoonery,  and  by  a  glance  at  it,  the 
reader  may  obtain  a  better  knowledge  of  its  structure  and  fix- 
tures, than  from  any  written  description  which  could  be  given. 
We  are  not  advised  that  any  more  convenient  edifice  has  any- 
where been  constructed  for  the  purpose  to  which  it  is  applied. 
It  is  100  feet  long  by  30  feet  wide,  and  two  stories  high,  with 
large  sliding  windows  on  both  sides,  and  at  each  end  suffi- 
ciently capacious  to  contain  four  rows  of  shelves  in  each  story, 
having  plenty  of  room  to  pass  between  them  to  change  the 
hurdles,  etc.  There  are  five  shelves  in  each  row,  as  represented 
in  the  wood  cut,  three  feet  in  width,  four  in  length,  and  four- 
teen inches  apart.  Two  millions  of  worms  may  be  reared  in 
a  building  of  this  size  and  construction. 


102  Instruction  Book  in  the 

The  proper  time  to  hatch  the  eggs  of  the  silkworm  depends 
somewhat  on  the  state  of  the  foliage  of  the  mulberry  tree.  It 
is  soon  enough  when  the  weather  becomes  regularly  warm, 
and  when  the  leaf  of  the  tree  has  attained  to  a  considerable 
size.  Spread  the  eggs  thin  on  paper  in  a  warm  room,  when 
the  temperature  is  at  70°  or  75°  Fahr.  The  room  must  be 
well  lighted,  but  the  sun  should  not  shine  directly  upon  the 
^SS^-  I"  six  or  seven  days  the  worms  will  appear,  and  must 
be  removed  to  the  shelves,  where  they  are  to  be  fed.  A  little 
food  now  suffices,  and  that  little  they  must  constantly  have. 
The  leaves  should  be  cut  fine  before  they  are  given  to  the 
worms.  The  life  of  the  worm  is  divided  into  five  ages,  and 
these  ages  are  marked  by  four  intervening  moultings.  During 
these  moultings  no  food  should  be  given  them,  but  unusual 
pains  be  taken  to  keep  the  air  salubrious  throughout  the  co- 
coonery. When  litter  begins  to  accumulate,  it  must  be  re- 
moved. The  old  method  of  effecting  this  was  to  place  some 
leaves  on  one  side  of  the  shelf,  and  when  the  worms  had 
crawled  to  and  begun  to  feed  on  them,  that  side  of  the  shelf 
which  they  had  left  was  brushed,  then  again  the  leaves  and 
jvorms,  together,  were  removed  to  the  place  where  the  filth 
had  been  taken  away,  and  both  sides  of  the  shelf  were  thus 
made  clean.  When  many  worms  were  fed,  this  portion  of  the 
labor  was  tedious  and  disagreeable,  and  not  very  conducive  to 
the  health  and  growth  of  the  insect.  This  practice  prevailed 
in  Europe  for  ages  ;  and  the  amount  of  labor  required  for 
keeping  the  shelves  clear  of  litter  and  filth,  was  nearly  equal 
to  the  picking  of  the  leaves.  The  invention  of  the  hurdle  has 
effected  a  vast  reduction  of  toil  in  this  branch  of  the  business. 
It  is  a  net  work  of  strong  cotton  cord,  with  meshes  an  inch 
in  diameter,  spread  on  a  light  wooden  frame  three  or  four  feet 
in  size,  which  is  large  enough  to  contain  a  thousand  worms. 
The  wood  cut  delineates  the  hurdle  lying  upon  the  shelf. 
Place  the  hurdle  with  some  leaves   on   it  over  the  shelf  of 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  103 

vvorms,  aud  they  will  immediately  crawl  up  and  fasten  on  those 
leaves — now  remove  the  hurdle  till  the  shelf  can  be  cleansed, 
then  restore  it  to  its  place.  Repeat  this  operation  as  often  as 
necessary.  In  this  way  two  men  will  keep  a  million  of  worms 
free  of  litter  ;  but  without  the  hurdle,  and  according  to  the  old 
system,  it  would  require  the  best  exertions  of  one  hundred. 
The  use  of  the  hurdle  is  attended  with  another  improvement 
of  nearly  as  much  consequence  to  the  Silk  culturist  as  the 
saving  of  labor  effected  by  it.  Those  worms  which  do  not 
immediately  make  their  way  to  the  fresh  leaves  on  the  upper 
hurdle  when  placed  over  them  are  diseased  and  defective,  and 
must  be  thrown  away,  which  will  prevent  the  spreading  of 
sickness  among  those  which  are  healthy,  and  thin  out  all  the 
inferior  insects,  so  that  every  cocoon  will  be  large,  perfect, 
and  valuable.  The  three  first  weeks  the  worm  consumes  but 
little  food.  Its  Silk  vessel  begins  to  form  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  fourth  age,  when  it  will  eat  with  much  avidity, 
and  must  be  fully  supplied,  or  the  quantity  of  Silk  will  be 
much  diminished,  and  the  quality  greatly  deteriorated.  The 
worm  usually  lives  six  weeks,  but  the  length  of  its  life  may 
be  modified  somewhat  by  circumstances.  If  well  fed  it  comes 
to  maturity  sooner  than  when  illy  provided  for.  It  is  well  to 
feed  four  or  five  times  a  day — but  when  the  worm  becomes  in- 
active from  cold,  no  food  is  required. 

Leaves  should  not  be  gathered  or  fed  to  the  worms  when 
wet  with  dew  or  rain.  A  supply  for  two  days  or  more  should 
be  kept  in  a  cellar  where  they  will  not  soon  wilt,  so  that  the 
worms  may  have  dry  leaves  in  stormy  weather.  When  the 
worm  is  ready  to  spin  its  cocoon  it  changes  its  color,  dimin- 
ishes in  size,  and  wanders  in  search  of  a  place  to  make  its 
ball.  The  spinning  frames  are  made  of  narrow  pieces  of  lath, 
nailed  to  two  cross  pieces  at  each  end,  three  inches  apart. 
This  frame  is  placed  over  the  hurdle,  as  seen  in  the  wood  cut, 
and  also  the  ladder  on  which  the  worm  ascends  and  winds  its 


104  Instruction  Book  in  the 

ball.  Here  again  a  great  labor-saving  improvement  has  been 
introduced.  Formerly  bushes  were  set  upright  on  the  shelves 
on  which  the  worms  would  fasten  their  cocoons  ;  and  the 
labor  required  to  prepare  and  place  the  bushes,  and  to  collect 
the  silk  was  no  inconsiderable  item  of  the  expense  of  produc- 
ing the  article.  Nineteen-twentieths  of  this  work  is  avoided 
by  the  introduction  of  the  spinning  frame  above  referred  to. 
Those  cocoons  which  are  intended  for  market  or  for  reeling 
should  be  steamed  in  a  tight  box  for  one  hour,  which  will  de- 
stroy the  chrysalis.  This  should  be  done  within  six  days  from 
the  time  the  cocoon  was  formed.  If  the  moth  is  permitted  to 
perforate  the  cocoon,  it  will  nearly  destroy  its  value.  When 
there  are  a  large  number  of  cocoons,  steaming  is  the  most 
speedy  and  economical  means  of  effecting  the  destruction  of 
the  chrysalis  ;  but  baking  the  balls  in  an  oven  slightly  heated, 
or  exposing  them  for  a  few  hours  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  will 
kill  the  moth.  The  cocoons  should  be  thoroughly  dried  after 
being  steamed  before  they  are  stowed  away.  We  shall  speak 
more  particularly  on  this  subject  hereafter.  Before  steaming, 
however,  select  the  best  and  fairest  cocoons  for  seed.  It  is  a 
law  of  nature  that  the  offspring  shall  inherit  the  diseases  of 
the  parent,  and  to  this  law,  of  course,  the  silkworm  is  not  an 
exception.  If  diminutive  cocoons  are  reserved  for  propaga- 
tion, the  miller  will  be  feeble,  lay  bad  eggs,  and  the  worms 
prove  sickly,  and  no  subsequent  care  will  ever  repair  the  in- 
jury. We  repeat,  for  it  is  of  the  utmost  consequence,  that 
the  eggs  must  be  good,  or  the  worms  will  never  prosper. 
Place  the  silk  balls  thus  selected  in  a  warm  room,  and  spread 
them  so  that  one  shall  not  lie  upon  another,  and  within  twelve 
or  fourteen  days  the  millers  will  make  their  way  out  of  the 
cocoons,  and  must  be  removed  and  placed  on  cotton  muslin, 
where  within  forty-eight  hours  the  females  will  each  deposit 
from  four  to  five  hundred  eggs.  The  eggs  and  mushn  should 
be  carefully  folded  and   kept  together  in   glass  jars,  or  tin 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  lOS 

boxes,  in  a  cellar  until  spring,  when  they  should  be  put  in  an 
ice-house,  that  the  eggs  may  not  hatch  until  wanted. 

There  is  no  part  of  the  labor  pertaining  to  the  business  that 
is  wearisome  or  disagreeable,  but  every  stage  of  it  is  calcu- 
lated to  please,  instruct,  and  charm.  To  the  admirers  of 
nature  it  unfolds  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  curious  ope- 
rations in  all  its  wonderful  and  infinitely  diversified  phenomena. 


We  append  a  few  extracts  from  a  "  History  of  Silk  Cul- 
ture," translated  from  the  Chinese,  the  oldest  silk  raisers  in 
the  world.  They  are  useful  for  general  knowledge,  and  are 
doubtless  reliable  : — 

{^Translated from  the  Chinese.^ 

The  silkworms  naturally  love  repose,  and  fear  loud  cries  ; 
therefore  their  house  should  be  quiet  and  exempt  from  all 
noise.  They  love  the  heat  and  fear  the  damp  ;  their  apart- 
ments should  therefore  be  constructed  of  boards.  In  a  quiet 
and  retired  house  they  will  not  be  troubled  with  the  cries  and 
clamor  of  men.  In  a  close  house  they  will  be  sheltered 
from  the  sudden  south  winds.  In  a  house  constructed  with 
plank  they  will  be  sheltered  from  the  exhalations  and  damp 
vapors  of  the  earth. 

WOU-PEN-SIN-CHOU. 

The  house  of  the  silkworms  ought  to  be  distant  from  all 
impurities,  and  everything  that  exhales  a  disagreeable  odor, 
such  as  stables,  cows,  etc.  Care  must  be  taken  during  the 
night  that  no  light  may  penetrate  the  windows,  or  suddenly 
be  shown  in  the  dwelling  of  the  silkworms.  Do  not  extin- 
guish in  the  silk-room  paper  matches,  such  as  emit  a  great 
deal  of  smoke. 

When   the   worms   are   newly  hatched   they  fear  the   dust 


106  Instruction  Book  in  the 

made  in  sweeping.  They  are  disturbed  by  crying  and  weep- 
ing ;  they  do  not  like  persons  to  come  into  their  apartments 
who  are  not  perfectly  clean. 

NoNG-S  ANG-  Pi-  Kioue. 

The  art  of  raising  silkworms  begins  with  the  choice  of  the 
eggs,  and  the  preservation  of  the  cocoons.  Select  in  the 
cocoon  room,  the  cocoons  that  are  turned  towards  the  light 
(that  is  to  say,  those  from  the  top  of  the  cocoon  room),  such 
as  are  brilliant,  neat,  and  of  a  firm  texture. 

The  moths  which  come  out  the  first  day,  are  called  miao- 
ngo  (viz  :  grass  moths).  The  latest  of  all  are  called  mo-ngo, 
(that  is  to  say :  the  last  butterflies).  Neither  of  them  ought 
to  be  kept.  Only  those  which  come  out  after  the  second  day 
must  be  taken.  The  sheets  of  the  paper  must  be  spread  upon 
the  cases  of  a  shelf,  then  the  males  and  ferpales  come  close 
together  and  copulate.  When  the  evening  comes,  the  male 
butterflies  must  be  taken  away,  and  the  females  must  be  placed 
on  sheets  of  paper,  leaving  an  equal  distance  between  them. 
The  eggs  which  are  found  in  lumps  ought  to  be  thrown  out. 
When  the  females  have  laid  a  number  of  eggs,  they  must  be 
left  on  the  sheets  where  they  are  deposited,  and  covered  from 
three  to  five  days.  When  the  sheets  are  hung  up,  the.  eggs 
ought  to  be  turned  outward  (read  :  in-ward)  for  fear  the  wind 
may  cause  them  to  perish. 

The  success  in  raising  silkworms  depends  on  the  precau- 
tion which  is  taken  in  the  beginning,  and  subsequently,  not 
to  expose  them  to  any  danger.  If  the  silkworms  do  not 
revive  all  at  once,  from  their  first  sleep,  or  moulting,  it  proceeds 
from  their  not  having  changed  color,  and  not  hatching  all  at 
once.  If  they  do  not  change  color,  and  do  not  hatch  all  at 
once,  it  is  because  the  rules  presciibed  to  preserve  the  eggs 
haue  not  been  strictly  followed, 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  107 


HO-PI-SSE-LOUI. 

When  the  silk  worms  lay  down  and  remain  motionless,  that 
repose  is  called  moulting.  During  the  time  of  moulting  they 
do  not  eat  either  the  mulberry  leaves  or  leaves  of  the  tree, 
tche.     At  the  end  of  one  day  and  night  they  shed  their  skins. 

There  are  some  silkworms  which  have  three  moultings,  and 
others  four. 

What  Hoang-sing-tseng  Says. 

"From  the  hatching  of  the  silkworms  to  their  third  moult- 
ing cut  leaves  ought  to  be  continually  given  them.  When 
the  ardent  silkworms  are  fed,  that  is  to  say,  Autumn  silk- 
worms, they  must  be  carefully  watched.  As  soon  as  they 
have  eaten  their  leaves  give  them  more,  for  they  will  fall  sick 
if  they  breathe  the  heat  of  the  silk-room  fasting." 

Manner  of  Feeding  the  Newly-Hatched  Silkworms. 

The  leaves  of  the  mulberry  must  be  frequently  cut  in  very 
fine  shreds,  and  lightly  spread  over  them  with  a  sieve.  The 
food  ought  to  be  distributed  without  interruption.  In  the 
space  of  one  hour  (two  of  our  hours)  four  meals  must  be  given 
them,  which  makes  forty-eight  repasts  in  the  space  of  one  day 
and  night. 

Food  must  be  given  to  the  silkworms  without  fail  during 
the  day  and  night.  If  their  repasts  are  multiplied  it  will  ne- 
cessarily result  that  they  will  soon  arrive  at  maturity ;  but  if 
their  meals  are  rare,  and  not  numerous,  they  will  attain  their 
growth  slowly. 

When  the  silkworms  attain  maturity  in  twenty-five  days, 
one  frame  or  hurdle  will  furnish  twenty-five  ounces  of  silk. 
If  in  twenty-eight  days,  only  twenty  ounces  can  be  obtained. 
If  the  time  be  one  month,  or  forty  days,  one  hurdle  will  fur- 
nish but  ten  ounces  of  silk. 


108  Instruction  Book  in  the 

Those  persons  who  feed  silkworms  ought  to  endeavor  not 
to  sleep.     Laziness  has  serious  inconveniences. 

Method  of  Diminishing  the  Food  and  Hastening  the 
Moulting. 

When  the  silkworms  are  disposed  to  sleep  (to  moult),  their 
food  must  be  diminished  in  proportion  to  the  degree  of  yellow 
or  white  which  their  skin  assumes ;  the  leaves  destined  for 
their  food  must  be  cut  in  fine  shreds,  and  frequently  spread  in 
light  layers. 

When  the  silkworms  are  completely  yellow  they  ought  to 
be  transported  in  succession  to  other  hurdles,  without  caring 
whether  the  sky  be  dark  or  serene,  if  it  be  in  the  morning  or 
the  middle  of  the  night.  When  they  have  been  transported 
to  other  hurdles  the  feeding  must  be  suspended  until  they 
have  all  recovered  from  their  moulting,  when  they  maybe  fed 
again.  This  is  called  diminishing  the  food  and  deciding  the 
moulting.  Thest  two  expressions  imply  that  the  nourishing 
of  the  silkworms  which  are  disposed  to  moult  must  be  dimin- 
ished (care  must  be  taken  not  to  cover  or  overload  them  with 
leaves),  and  on  the  other  side  the  silkworms  must  be  abund- 
antly fed  (which  are  not  disposed  to  moult),  in  order  that  they 
may  quickly  moult.  Not  only  will  they  all  moult  together,  but 
they  will  be  exempt  from  diseases  caused  by  the  accumulation 
of  leaves,  and  the  internal  heat  which  consequently  follows. 

Nong-sang-thong-kioue. 

The  silkworms  may  be  found  in  ten  different  situations  : 
They  may  be  cold  or  hot,  starved  or  satiated,  sufficiently  far 
apart,  or  too  near  together,  asleep  or  awake  ;  they  may  eat 
slowly  or  with  appetite. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  109 


An  Estimate  of  Silk  Culture  in  1840,  from  "The 
American  Silk  Culturist." 

From  an  investigation,  which  I  prosecuted  last  winter  to 
some  considerable  extent,  I  ascertained  that  Silk  could  be 
manufactured  and  raised  cheaper  than  cotton  or  flax.  At  least 
I  satisfied  myself  on  the  subject.  Children  and  aged  people 
can  perform  most  of  the  labor  of  procuring  the  raw  Silk, 
which  is  the  principal  part.     Let  us  make  an  estimate  : 

In  one  acre   there  are  43i56o  square  feet, 
1,210  trees  in  one  acre,  6  feet  by  6, 
4,840    "        «      «<         i;^  feet  by  6, 
Each  tree,  (Italian  Mulberry,  six  years),  will  produce  six  pounds  of  leaves. 
50  pounds  of  leaves,  (some  say  36),  will  feed  1000  worms 
300  cocoons  will  weigh  one  pound. 
3000  cocoons  (10  pounds)  make  one  pound  of  Silk. 

30,000  trees,  6  years  old,  will  produce  180,000  pounds  of  leaves,  which  will  feed 
(at  45  pounds  per  thousand)  four  millions  of  worms.  Allow  3000  to  a 
pound  of  Silk  ;  this,  at  $3  per  pound,  will  amount  to  $3,999.  Reeled  Silk 
is,  however,  oftener  valued  at  five  or  six  dollars  the  pound  than  three. 

The  above  calculation  is  made  on  the  white  Mulberry. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture, 


^ 


We  here  present  our  readers  with  an  engraving  representing 
an  interior  view  of  a  cocoonery.  The  building  is  lOO  feet  in 
length,  and  30  feet  in  width,  and  of  two  stories.  The  height 
of  the  lower  story,  which  is  the  only  one  that  we  shall  feed  in 
the  coming  season,  is  nine  feet,  and  contains,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  plate  (No.  i),  four  rows  of  feeding  shelves,  and  five 
shelves  in  each  row  rising  one  above  the  other.  They  are 
cheaply  constructed  and  will  answer  the  purpose  for  which 
they  were  designed  equally  as  well  as  more  costly  ones.  Be- 
tween each  row  is  a  railroad  upon  which  is  placed  a  car  of  a 
sufficient  size  to  contain,  on  its  platform,  numerous  baskets  of 
leaves  and  the  ''feeder^'  and  on  each  side  of  the  platform  is  a 
step  raised  high  enough  to  allow  the  feeder  to  supply  the 
worms  on  the  top  shelf  with  leaves  with  the  greatest  facility. 
The  object  of  the  railroad  and  car  is  to  economize  labor  and 


112 


Instruction  Book,  in  the 


do  away  the  use  of  a  ladder,  for,  by  the  present  arrangement, 
the  feeder  can  pull  himself  along  as  far  at  a  time  as  is  required, 
and  can  do  more  and  better  work  than  can  possibly  be  done 
under  the  system  generally  practised. 

The  shelves  are  three  feet  in  width  and  are  made  of  1-2  inch 
boards,  the  upper  side  smoothed,  and  are  fourteen  inches  apart. 
The  standards,  which  reach  from  the  lower  to  the  upper  floor 
are  placed  at  equal  distanee  from  each  other,  four  feet,  and  are 
one  inch  in  thickness  and  six  inches  wide,  and  are  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  shelves. 


5*i5titit>*tztzt;t55t: 


^♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦t*t*t^ 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  113 

Plate  No.  2,  is  the  hurdle  which  is  3  feet  11  1-2  inches  long, 
the  frame  being  made  of  "  inch  stuff"  and  the  meshes  of  the 
netting  3-4  of  an  inch  square.  The  method  of  feeding  the 
worm  upon  hurdles  we  consider  most  important.  By  the  use 
of  it  the  shelves  are .  easily  and  quickly  cleared  without 
recourse  being  had  to  touching  the  worm  with  the  fingers. 
When  necessary  to  remove  the  litter  from  the  shelves,  it  is 
readily  done  by  placing  a  hurdle  over  the  one  in  use,  and 
strewing  some  fresh  leaves  over  its  surface.  The  worms  (at 
least  all  that  are  healthy,)  will  immediately  mount  on  the  hur- 
dle placed,  and  such  worms  as  do  not  mount  are  thrown  away 
with  the  litter,  being  considered  as  worthless.  If  the  plan  is 
adopted  all  the  unhealthy  worms  will  have  been  removed  be- 
fore the  commencement  of  the  4th  age,  and  consequently 
before  the  heaviest  part  of  the  expense  will  accrue  in  feeding. 
In  the  common  method  of  feeding  upon  boards  great  quanti- 
ties of  filth  accumulate,  there  is  but  little  chance,  if  any,  for 
a  free  circulation  of  air,  and  the  worms  are  obliged  to  be 
moved  separately  by  hand  which,  as  is  well  known,  is 
highly  injurious  to  them. 

Under  the  shelves  and  attached  to  them  are  thin  pieces  of 
rough  lath  3  inches  distant  from  each  other,  placed  for  the 
purpose  of  allowing  the  worm  to  form  its  cocoon  with  but 
little  waste  of  silk,  (see  plate  No.  4.)  When  the  worms  are 
ready  to  spin,  a  cheaply  constructed  ladder  made  of  1-2  inch 
sticks  and  wound  around  with  Cotton  cord,  (see  plate  No.  3,) 
is  placed  above  the  hurdle  in  the  manner  shown  by  an  en- 
graving in  the  first  number  of  this  publication. 

For  the  accommodation  of  those  fed  upon  the  top  shelves 
laths  must  be  raised  between  the  joists  overhead. 

The  light  and  current  of  air  are  graduated  by  means  of 
stationary  blinds,  with  moveable  slats,  which  have  been  found 
to  answer  the  purpose. 

We  are  aware  that  there  are  almost  as  many  minds  in  re- 
8 


114  Instruction  Book  in  the 

gard  to  the  construction  of  a  cocoonery,  as  there  are  indi- 
viduals, and  that  it  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  bring  all 
Silk  Growers  to  think  alike  upon  the  subject,  and  it  will  re- 
quire more  experience  than  is  yet  possessed  by  the  American 
public,  to  bring  the  building,  fixtures  and  management  under 
the  control  of  a  proper  system.  Improvements  are  daily 
making,  and  as  our  countrymen  have  to  compete  with  the 
laborer  in  Europe,  whose  pay  for  his  work  is  merely  nominal, 
it  becomes  us  to  adopt  such  plans  as  will  be  the  most  economi- 
cal and  judicious. 


STIFLING  THE  COCOON  OR  CHRYSALIDE. 

Were  it  convenient  to  reel  the  silk  from  the  cocoon  imme- 
mediately  after  it  is  spun,  it  would  be  the  best  possible  mode  ; 
but  where  it  is  not  convenient,  the  insect  contained  in  the 
cocoon  must  be  stifled  within  about  ten  days  after  the  cocoon 
is  completed,  otherwise  it  will  perforate  the  cocoon,  which 
would  thus  be  rendered  of  little  value. 

In  many  climates  the  power  of  the  solar  rays  is  found  to  be 
sufficient  to  destroy  the  chrysalide  in  the  cocoon.  This  is  an 
excellent  mode,  and  is  found  effectual  in  India,  in  Italy,  and  in 
America.  In  1838  as  far  north  as  Burlington,  Vt,  it  has  been 
tried  by  Mr.  Stacy  with  the  most  perfect  success.  The  cocoons 
are  exposed  fully  to  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun  in  a  cloud- 
less day  from  10  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  4  in  the  afternoon, 
when  they  are  to  be  closely  wrapped  in  dark  cloths  which 
have  undergone  a  like  exposure  to  the  sun's  intense  heat. 
Thus  exposed  during  three  days,  to  a  degree  of  heat  equal  in 
the  sun  to  88°,  their  destruction  becomes  effectual,  as  may  be 
ascertained  on  trial.  Cut  open  a  cocoon  and  prick  the  chrysa- 
lide with  a  needle;  if  living,  it  will  then  show  signs  of  life. 
There  may  be  no  better  mode,  and  cocoons  thus  managed,  will 
appear  remarkably  bright  and  fine. 


Art  or  Silk  Culture.  IIB 

In  more  temperate  climates,  or  in  some  parts  of  France, 
ovens  are  used  for  destroying  the  insect.  The  cocoons  are 
placed  in  oblong,  shallow  baskets  covered  with  paper,  and 
over  this  a  cloth,  and  these  are  placed  in  an  oven,  the  heat  of 
which  should  be  very  Jiearly  that  of  the  oven  after  the  bread 
is  drawn.  Thus  wrapped  up  and  exposed  during  half  an  hour 
or  an  hour,  the  chrysalides  taken  from  the  centre  of  the  basket 
will  be  found  dead.  On  removal  from  the  basket,  they  are 
covered  closely  with  blankets  for  a  few  hours,  and  then  dried 
in  the  sun.  Steam  of  boiling  water  is  a  mode  of  destroying 
equally  effectual.  Boiling  water  is  poured  into  a  large  wooden 
trough  or  vessel  to  the  depth  of  two  feet.  Over  this  the 
cocoons  are  placed  in  a  basket  of  the  same  form  and  size  : 
this  is  covered  close  with  woolen  cloths,  and  the  basket  is 
lowered  to  within  an  inch  of  the  surface,  that  the  steam  may 
pervade  the  whole  mass — new  quantities  of  boiling  water 
being  added  to  keep  up  the  steam,  in  two  hours  the  chrysa- 
lides will  be  found  dead.  The  cocoons  are  then  removed  and 
covered  close  with  woolen  cloths,  and  afterwards  spread  in  the 
sun  to  dry,  189°  to  200°  is  the  heat  usually  prescribed  for 
killing  the  chrysalides,  either  in  the  oven  or  by  steam. 

Stifling  by  steam,  observes  M.  Amans  Carrier,  injures  the 
lustre,  particularly  of  the  white  silk.  And  Monsieur  Baume, 
the  celebrated  chemist,  has  also  remarked,  that  in  the  modes 
usually  adopted  for  the  destruction  of  the  chrysalides,  the 
cocoons  were  rendered  harder,  and  more  difficult  to  reel  than 
where  no  artificial  heat  had  been  applied ;  and  that  the  lustre 
is  also  injured  in  the  process  o( baking.  His  mode  consisted 
in  placing  the  cocoons  in  large  boxes,  in  layers  six  inches 
deep  ;  on  these  .spirits  of  wine  were  sprinkled  from  a  watering 
pot,  and  equally  distributed  over  the  whole  cocoons,  in  the 
proportion  of  half  a  pint  to  every  superficial  foot  of  surface. 
On  these  another  layer  six  inches  deep  was  placed,  and  a  like 
proportion  of  spirits  of  wine  distributed  over  the  whole ;  and 


116  Instruction  Book  in  the 

so  continuing  till  the  box  was  filled.  All  being  covered  dur- 
ing 24  hours,  a  spontaneous  heat  ensues,  which  is  sufficient  to 
evaporate  the  spirit,  which  penetrates  the  cocoon  with  power 
to  destroy  the  chrysalides  ;  the  cocoons  are  afterwards  spread 
to  dry,  and  are  then  ready  for  reeling,  with  no  aid  from  hot 
water.  M.  Beaume  states  that  silk  thus  managed,  not  only 
exhibits  a  greater  degree  of  lustre,  but  that  the  proportion  of 
the  silk  reeled  will  be  one  ninth  part  greater  than  when  the 
cocoons  have  been  subjected  to  the  heat  of  an  oven. 

By  enclosing  the  cocoons  in  tin  boxes,  and,  after  sprinkling 
with  spirits  of  wine,  closing  up  the  box  and  placing  it  in  the 
sun,  the  chrysalides  are  in  like  manner  speedily  destroyed.  Or, 
by  closing  them  in  a  large  wooden  box,  with  a  few  small  per- 
forations in  the  top,  and  admitting  at  the  bottom  the  steam  of 
boiling  whiskey  or  New  England  rum,  the  same  effect  is  pro- 
duced. Camphorated  spirits  are  still  more  powerful  and  effec- 
tual. When  these  are  used,  the  boxes  containing  the  cocoons 
should  be  closed  for  a  time,  and  placed  near  the  fire  ;  such  co- 
coons are  ever  after  secure  from  the  attacks  of  moths. 

The  reeling  should  commence  as  soon  as  the  first  cocoons 
are  completed,  and  should  continue  uninterrupted.  These  co- 
coons which  become  spotted  in  destroying  the  chrysalides, 
must  be  separated. and  reeled  immediately. 

By  whatever  process  the  chrysalides  have  been  destroyed, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  dry  them  thoroughly,  either  in  the  sun, 
or  in  rooms  expressly  appropriated  to  this  use,  which  are 
called  cocoonieres,  and  may  be  provided  with  a  stove.  These 
rooms  are  provided  with  shelves  placed  in  tiers  two  feet  asun- 
der, and  formed  of  laths.  The  legs  of  the  supporters  and  the 
whole  being  insulated  and  secure  from  rats  and  mice,  which 
are  immoderately  fond  of  the  chrysalides.  Air  is  continually 
admitted,  and  the  cocoons  which  are  spread  to  the  depth  of  a 
few  inches,  are  continually  watched  and  turned  every  day,  till 
dry. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  117 


TRANSPORTING  COCOONS. 

Cocoons  when  sent  to  market,  or  to  the  filatures  at  a  dis- 
tance for  reeling,  must  be  put  up  with  a  suitable  degree  of  care. 
Particular  attention  is  necessary  in  handling  and  packing,  that 
they  be  not  dented  or  flattened,  as  this  would  be  highly  inju- 
rious. The  cocoons  when  perfectly  dry,  are  to  be  packed  in 
tight  and  perfectly  dry  boxes,  or  barrels,  and  sufficiently 
pressed  down  to  prevent  chafing,  but  not  so  hard  as  to  alter 
their  form.  Thus  managed  they  may  be  safely  transported  to 
any  distance  by  water  or  by  land.  Pierced  cocoons  can  be 
closely  packed,  without  detriment  to  the  cocoons. 


REELING. 

In  silk  countries,  an  establishment  for  reeling  is  called  a  fila- 
ture, and  the  winding  of  the  cocoons  is  generally  conducted 
as  a  separate  business,  distinct  from  that  of  raising  silk  worms, 
and  the  silken  balls  become  an  article  of  traffic,  as  soon  as  the 
chrysalide  within  has  been  destroyed. 

Everythhig,  it  is  claimed,  depends  on  reeling.  So  important, 
indeed,  is  this  branch  considered,  that  an  essential  portion  of 
the  profit  depends  on  it  being  properly  performed.  If  the 
reeling  has  been  but  indifferently  performed,  the  silk  may  not 
sell  for  more  than  four  dollars  a  pound,  but  if  well  reeled  and 
skillfully  executed,  it  may  bring  from  six  to  seven  dollars, 
possibly  more,  according  to  the  demand  at  the  time  ;  and  it  is 
stated  by  Count  Dandolo,  as  a  well  known  fact,  that  of  two 
reelers,  each  reeling- seven  and  a  half  pounds  of  cocoons  of 
the  same  quality,  while  one  will  be  able  to  obtain  but  six  or 
six  and  a  half  ounces,  another  will  obtain  eight  ounces. 

The  filaments  of  the  cocoon  are  cemented  together  by  a 
gum  ;  to  dissolve  this  gum  requires  the  aid  of  hot  water.    This 


118  Instruction  Book  in  the 

gum  is  very  important,  and  is  not  separated  till  the  silk  is 
twisted  into  tram  or  organzine ;  the  gum  serves  to  unite  and 
combine  the  individual  fibres  while  winding,  and  as  a  cement 
uniting  the  ends  of  the  continuous  thread  which  is  formed  by 
the  continual  additions  of  new  filaments  to  replace  those  of 
the  exhausted  cocoons.  It  is  important  also,  that  the  reel 
should  be  moved  with  a  suitable  degree  of  speed,  that  the  fila- 
ment may  unite  while  warm  and  adhesive.  Also,  it  is  an 
essential  requisite  to  the  production  of  good  silk,  that  before 
the  silk  touches  the  bars  of  the  reel,  it  should  have  lost  by 
drying  and  by  cooling,  a  good  part  of  this  adhesive  quality. 
For  this  reason,  the  reelers  of  Piedmont  are  obliged  by  law  to 
allow  the  distance  of  thirty-eight  French  inches  between  the 
guides  and  the  centre  of  the  reel.  This,  and  the  slowly-traver- 
sing movement  of  the  layer  which  winds  spirally  over  the 
reel,  backwards  and  forwards,  and  the  circulation  of  the  air, 
caused  by  the  motions  of  the  reel,  dries  the  gum  sufficiently 
to  prevent  the  adhesion  of  the  threads. 

Whoever  would  acquire  the  art  of  reeling  silk,  must  first  of 
all  be  provided  with  an  appropriate  and  well  constructed  silk 
reel.  Such  an  one  may  be  either  purchased  or  made  at  a  trif- 
ling expense. 

The  use  of  the  reel  requires  a  dexterity  which  is  easily 
acquired  by  practice.  The  cocoons  being  cleared  of  floss,  are 
thrown  by  handfuls  into  basins  of  pure  soft  water,  placed  over 
small  furnaces  of  charcoal  fires.  There  is  a  certain  kind  of 
kerosene  furnace  which  can  also  be  used,  but  care  must  be 
observed  not  to  soil  the  silk  with  smoke  from  the  oil  heater. 
The  city  gas  can  be  used,  but  as  this  is  not  accessible  in  the 
country,  any  simple  mode  of  hot  water  application  can  be 
made  with  water  boiled  on  a  stove,  yet  uniformity  of  heat 
must  be  kept  up  to  facilitate  the  reeling  of  the  cocoons. 
When  the  water  is  almost  at  boiling  point,  sink  the  cocoons, 
with  a  whisk  of  broom  corn,   under  water  for  two  or  three 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  119 

minutes,  to  soften  the  gum  and  loosen  the  fibre.  Then  moving 
the  whisk  very  lightly  and  softly,  the  filaments  will  adhere  to 
it,  and  may  be  drawn  up  till  the  flossy  silk  is  unwound,  and 
the  fine  silk  comes  off.  When  a  sufficient  number  of  the  fila- 
ments are  collected  to  form  the  thread,  it  is  passed  through 
one  of  the  holes  of  the  iron  or  glass  plate  connected  with  the 
guide  and  traversing  bar,  and  tied  to  one  of  the  bars  of  the 
reel,  and  the  reeling  begins. 

If  the  cocoons  bound  upwards,  out  of  the  water,  it  shows 
that  the  gum  is  not  sufficiently  softened ;  the  reel  must  be 
slacked,  and  hot  water  added,  or  its  temperature  increased  : 
but  if  the  silk  comes  off  in  lumps  of  burs,  this  shows  that  the 
silk  is  yielded  from  the  cocoon  faster  than  it  can  be  received 
on  the  reel,  and  that  the  water  is  therefore  too  hot ;  cold  wa- 
ter is  added,  and  the  motions  of  the  reel  are  quickened. 

Each  reel  carries  two  or  four  compound  threads,  and  it  has 
been  recommended  that  the  second  thread  be  wound  two  or 
three  times  round  the  other  thread,  previous  to  being  passed 
through  its  guide,  and  secured  to  the  reel  ;  this  crossing  and 
friction  makes  a  rounder  and  smoother  thread. 

Stir  the  cocoons  very  lightly  ;  if  struck  roughly,  the  silk 
comes  off  in  burs,  which  will  rise  up  to  the  guides,  and  ob- 
struct the  reel,  instead  of  coming  off  singly.  When  a  greater 
number  of  filaments  are  taken  up  by  the  whisk  than  are  re- 
quired, they  are  suffered  to  remain  on  it  till  wanted,  a  hook 
being  provided  on  the  reel  to  which  it  may  be  hung  when  not 
in  use. 

The  cocoons  are  put  in  as  fast  as  wanted,  but  no  faster  ;  for 
if  they  remain  too  long  in  hot  water,  the  gum,  by  being  too 
far  dissolved,  causes  the  silk  to  come  off  unequally. 

The  filaments  as  they  are  wanted,  are  lightly  thrown  upon 
the  thread  that  is  winding,  and  being  gently  rolled  with  the 
thumb  and  finger,  a  union  is  effected.  The  skin  of  the  fingers 
should  be  smooth,  or  made  so  by  rubbing  with  sand  paper. 


120  Instruction  Book  In  the 

It  is  of  some  importance  that  the  water  employed  for  reel- 
ing, should  be  what  is  usually  called  soft  water,  as  this  more 
readily  dissolves  the  gum,  and  prevents  the  breaking  of  the 
filaments.  It  should  be  either  rain  water,  water  from  slow 
streams  or  from  ponds. 

If  the  water  be  too  hot,  the  lustre  of  the  silk  will  be  injured, 
particularly  of  the  white  silk  ;  so  says  M.  Benezech  in  his  in- 
structions to  M.  Amans  Carrier.  Nay  more ;  if  the  water  be 
too  hot,  the  thread  will  prove  dead^^s,  it  is  technically  termed, 
and  without  firmness.  Therefore  the  proper  temperature  of 
the  water  is  not  of  more  consequence  to  the  facility  of  the 
reeling,  than  to  the  good  quality  of  the  silk.  But  should  the 
heat  of  the  water  be  deficient,  the  ends  of  the  filaments  will 
not  be  well  joined,  and  the  silk  will  be  harsh. 

Sometimes  the  whole  thread  is  broken,  by  knobs  obstruct- 
ing its  passage  through  the  guides,  or  by  an  irregular  and 
jerking  movement  of  the  reel.  But  in  this  case  the  silk  must 
never  be  joined  by  a  knot,  it  is  sufficient  that  the  parts  be 
brought  together,  and  united  by  slightly  twisting. 

Silk  may  be  wound  of  any  size,  but  it  is  difficult  to  unite 
more  than  thirty  filaments  in  one  thread.  The  art  consists  in 
preserving  as  even  thread  ;  a  thing  only  to  be  attained  by 
practice,  since  in  the  same  cocoon  the  fibres  diminish,  grow- 
ing continually  finer  to  the  end  ;  and  the  united  thread  which 
is  formed  of  three  new  and  two  half-wound  cocoons,  is  con- 
sidered equal  to  the  silk  of  four  cocoons.  With  the  exception 
of  the  silk  formed  of  two  cocoons,  other  silks  are  not  dis 
tinguished,  other  than  as  silk  of  three  to  four,  or  four  to  five, 
or  five  to  six  cocoons.  Those  of  larger  size  are  not  so  nicely 
defined,  and  are  called  from  twelve  to  fifteen,  or  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  cocoons.  The  quality  of  silk  thread  most  desirable 
in  the  silk  market,  is  that  composed  of  five  cocoons,  care 
being  taken  to  keep  it  uniform,  by  adding  new  cocoons  when 
one  is  exhausted. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  121 

Whether  twenty  cocoons  are  united  to  form  one  single 
thread,  or  whether  the  same  number  of  filaments  are  employed 
in  the  production  of  four  skeins,  provided  both  are  wound  with 
an  equally  even  thread,  the  amount  of  labor  is  about  the  same 
in  both  cases. 

The  weight  of  silk  which  can  be  reeled  in  any  stated  time, 
depends  on  the  activity  of  the  reeler :  there  is  a  degree  of 
dexterity  required  in  adding  fresh  ends,  for  broken  or  ex- 
pended cocoons,  which  can  only  be  acquired  hy  practice.  Yet 
there  are  very  few  reelers  who  are  capable  of  giving  the  re- 
quisite attention  to  more  than  three  or  four  skeins  at  the  same 
moment  of  time. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  123 


THE  NEW  SILK  REEL. 


The  cut  on  opposite  page  represents  a  reel  manufactured  for 
the  Women's  Silk  Culture  Association.  It  is  a  beautiful 
piece  of  machinery,  made  of  metal,  and  running  smoothly, 
turned  by  hand.     This  can  be  done  by  a  child  of  ten  years. 

This  reel  can  be  bought  without  the  copper  pan, 

for ;?5o  oo 

With  the  copper  pan  and  copper  table,  tinned  over,  65  00 

With  tin  pan,  copper  bottom,  and  zinc  table,         .  58  00 

Extra  reel  or  wheel, 12  00 

The  Association  have  now  on  exhibition  a  wooden 
reel,  much  less  expensive  than  the  above,  and 
which  does  admirable  work  ;  which  can  be 
sold  complete  for*  .         .         .         .         .  20  00 

Five  cocoons  makes  the  average  commercial  thread,  and  a 
good  reeler  can  reel  half  a  pound  a  day. 


■  This  reel  will  be  run  at  the  Louisville  (Ky.)  Exposition,  opening  Sept.  s,  18S2. 


124  Instruction  Book  in  the 


DIFFERENT   QUALITIES   OF  COCOONS. 

The  cocoons, designed  for  producing  silk  are  divided  by 
culturists  into  different  qualities.  Much  more  silk  may  thus 
be  reeled  in  a  day,  if  the  cocoons  are  properly  classed.  The 
breaking  of  the  single  filaments  arises  from  the  use  of  ill 
formed  or  ill  assorted  cocoons,  which  require  different  degrees 
of  temperature  in  the  water  into  which  they  are  immersed  to 
dissolve  the  gum  with  which  they  are  cemented  in  the  ball. 

Previous  to  reeling,  the  outer  floss  is  separated.  This  i^ 
expeditiously  performed  by  opening  the  floss  at  one  end, 
when  the  hard,  compact  cocoon  is  readily  protruded. 

Cocoons  are  classed  as  follows : — 

1.  Good  Cocoons.  These  are  firm,  free  from  spots,  both 
ends  round,  and  capable  of  resisting  the  pressure  of  the  thumb 
and  finger.  These  are  again  subdivided,  and  the  pure  white 
are  separated  from  the  yellow  of  every  shade.  These  last  are 
indebted  for  their  greater  weight  and  yellow  color  wholly  to 
the  excess  of  gum  which  they  contain.  Pale  cocoons  preserve 
a  better  and  purer  white,  and  take  a  better  pale  blue  dye. 

2.  Pointed  Cocoons.  These  approach  to  a  point  at  one  ex- 
tremity :  they  afford  but  little  silk,  and,  after  being  partly 
wound,  the  filament  breaks  continually  at  the  point,  where  the 
thread  is  always  weak,  and  they  can  be  reeled  no  further. 

3.  Cocalons.  These  are  larger  in  size  than  cocoons  of  the 
first  quality,  but  contain  no  more  silk,  being  less  compact  in 
their  texture.  These  are  separated  in  reeling  from  other  good 
qualities,  because  they  require  immersion  in  colder  water  ; 
the  fibres  being  more  easily  disengaged  from  the  gummy 
cement.  By  expert  reeling,  they  produce  silk  of  the  first 
quality. 

4.  Dupions  or  Double  Cocoons.  These  usually  amount  to 
not  more  than  a  hundredth  part  of  the  whole.      These  are 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  128 

reeled  by  skilful  reelers,  in  water  boiling  hot,  and  usually 
without  difficulty.  These  being  formed  by  the  united  labors 
of  two  silkworms,  many  of  them  are  so  intertwined  that  they 
break  frequently  in  reeling,  and  sometimes  they  cannot  be 
wound  at  all.  The  floss  must  be  carefully  separated,  also  any 
loose  silk  which  may  accumulate  on  the  reel.  The  silk  which 
these  afford  is  not  so  fine  as  that  of  the  perfect  cocoon,  but  it 
serves  to  form  sewing  silk  of  the  second  quality. 

5.  Soufflons.  These  are  very  imperfect  cocoons,  the  texture 
loose,  even  to  a  degree  so  great  as  to  be  transparent.  These 
can  never  be  wound,  but  by  a  particular  process  they  are  con- 
verted into  fleuret* 

6.  Perforated  Cocoons.  These  are  the  cocoons  from  whence 
the  miller  has  escaped  and  are  never  reeled.  Rev.  Mr. 
Swayne  was  the  first  to  discover  that  not  a  filament  is  broken 
but  rather  entangled.  He  has  proved  that  half  of  them  may 
be  reeled.  Yet  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  will  ever  be  done  to 
profit*. 

7.  Good  Choquettes. — :These  are  unfinished  cocoons,  or  those 
in  which  the  insect  dies  before  the  completion  of  their  labor. 
On  being  shaken,  the  chrysalide  is  not  heard  to  rattle,  as  it 
adheres  to  the  side.  The  silk  is  as  fine  as  that  of  the  first 
quality,  but  it  is  not  so  strong  nor  so  brilliant.  They  are 
liable  to  furze  in  winding,  and  must  therefore  be  wound  sepa- 
rately. 

8.  Bad  Choquettes.  These  cocoons  are  defective  or  spotted : 
the  silk  which  they  afford  is  foul  or  bad,  of  a  blackish  color. 

9.  Calcined  Cocoons.  These  cocoons  are  so  highly  esteemed, 
that  in  Piedmont  they  sell  for  half  as  much  again  as  other 
good  cocoons ;    but  large  parcels  are  rarely  to  be  obtained. 

*  Macerated  floss,  made  by  removing  the  chrysalis  and  passing  through  hot  potash  baths, 
well  rinsed  in  fresh  water  and  dried  ;  then  passed  through  a  macerating  process,  until  all  be- 
comes a  mass  of  soft  silk  floss,  like  fine  wool.  Machinery  is  the  best  agent,  but  it  can  also  be 
done,  when  the  quantity  is  not  too  large,  by  any  individual. 


126  Instruction  Book  in  the 

In  these,  the  silkworm,  after  having  completed  its  labor,  is 
seized  with  a  peculiar  disease,  and  becomes  either  petrified  or 
reduced  to  a  white  powder.  They  are  known  by  a  peculiar 
rattling  noise  when  shaken.  The  quality  of  the  silk  is  equally 
excellent,  and  the  quantity  even  greater  than  that  produced 
by  the  healthy  silkworms. 

In  reeling  good  cocoons,  a  thread  composed  of  hMtfive  or  six 
fibres,  is  said  by  M.  Benezech  to  be  preferred  to  one  composed 
of  eight.  Good  choquettes  are  seldom  wound  finer  than  from 
seven  to  eight  cocoons  at  a  time.  Dupions,  for  ordinary  sew- 
ing silk,  are  wound  fifteen  to  twenty  filaments  to  a  single 
thread.  Bad  choquettes  are  usually  wound  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  filaments  to  the  thread.  These,  and  other  inferior 
cocoons,  which  are  wound  forty  or  fifty  fibres  at  once,  form  a 
thread  for  the  filling  of  coarse  fabrics,  or  for  sewing  silk  of 
coarser  quality. 

The  water  in  which  dupions  and  choquettes  are  wound, 
must  be  changed  four  times  a  day.  But  it  is  deemed  sufficient 
that  the  water  be  renewed  but  twice  a  day,  when  good  cocoons 
are  reeled.  Yet  if  the  water  is  suffered  to  become  foul,  it 
injures  the  lustre  and  fine  gloss  of  the  silk. 

In  Cevennes,  a  district  of  France,  famous  for  the  excellence 
of  its  silk,  the  cocoons  are  not  entirely  wound  off;  as  the 
latter  part  of  the  cocoon  being  exceedingly  fine,  and  abound- 
ing with  knots,  is  liable  to  break.  Therefore,  in  reeling  fine 
silk,  when  seven-eighths  of  the  silk  is  wound  off,  the  cocoon 
is  thrown  aside  and  replaced  by  another. 

These  pellicles  are  occassionally  taken  out  with  a  ladle  and 
opened,  and  the  chrysalide  separated  and  thrown  aside  with 
that  which  was  separated  in  the  beginning,  as  of  inferior 
quality  ;  for  these  partly  finished  cocoons  must  on  no  account 
be  permitted  to  remain  in  the  basins,  as  they  would  thicken 
the  water,  and  injure  the  color  and  the  lustre  of  the  silk. 
rendering  it  fit  only  for  receiving  the  dark  colors. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  127 

As  to  the  cocoons  which  can  never  be  reeled,  the  soufflons 
are  boiled  half  a  hour;  the  pierced  cocoons  which  produce 
the  best  silk,  are  boiled  longer.  These  are  first  dried,  and 
then  pounded  to  separate  them  from  their  chrysalides,  which 
are  reduced  to  powder.  They  are  then  opened  by  drawing 
them  out  at  arm's  length,  and  placed  on  the  distaff  and  spun. 
The  silk  thus  produced  is  called  fleuret.  But  if  after  boiling 
and  drying,  and  beating,  the  cocoons  are  carded,  the  flouret 
will  be  more  bright  and  beautiful,  and  command  a  higher 
price,  owing  to  the  greater  waste  of  materials,  and  the  far 
greater  amount  of  labor. 

In  every  large  establishment  there  should  be  supernumerary 
reels,  to  be  detached  from  the  reeling  apparatus.  When  the 
suitable  quantity  has  been  wound  on  the  reel,  it  is  to  be 
rubbed  gently  with  a  handful  of  clean  coarse  silk  which  has 
been  dipped  first  in  cold  water  and  gently  squeezed  ;  it  is 
afterwards  rubbed  gently  and  smooth  with  the  palm  of  the 
hand.  Then  opening  the  windows,  turn  the  reel  with  the 
greatest  possible  velocity  for  about  ten  minutes,  which  will 
effectually  dry  the  silk.  This  plan  is  resorted  to  only  in  large 
filatures. 

Disbanding  the  Reel. 

The  individual  fibres,  of  which  the  silken  thread  is  com- 
posed, will  unavoidably  suffer  different  degrees  of  tension 
during  the  process  of  reeling.  This  may  arise  from  the  in- 
equality of  the  size  of  the  filaments,  or  from  their  being  un- 
equally steeped  in  the  water  or  from  other  causes.  The  fibres 
thus  unequally  stretched  while  wet,  would  be  liable  to  con- 
tract, unequally,  thus  destroying  the  union  and  diminishing 
the  strength  of  the  compound  thread. 

To  prevent  such  an  occurrence,  the  skein  must  remain  on 
the  reel  for  six  or  eight  hours,  until  the  fibres  are  all  firmly 
united  in  one  compact  thread.  Those  fibres  which  have 
suffered  less  strain  in  reeling,  and  those  which  have  suffered 


128  Instruction  Book. 


a  greater  strain,  will  be  brought  to  an  equal  length  by  the 
prolonged  and  forcible  state  of  union  which  they  undergo  in 
the  process  of  drying  and  shrinking  on  the  reel.  This  drying 
must  be  effected  in  an  airy  place,  but  not  in  the  sun. 

When  the  skein  is  dry,  tie  a  mark  to  the  end  of  the  thread 
which  might  otherwise  be  lost  in  the  skein,  and  become  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  find.  First  squeeze  it  together  gently  on 
the  bars  all  around  which  will  loosen  it ;  then  with  a  string 
of  refuse  silk,  tie  it  on  the  place  which  bore  on  the  bars  of  the 
reel ;  then  carefully  slide  it  from  the  reel  and  make  another 
tie  on  the  opposite  end  of  the  skein.  After  this  it  is  doubled, 
and  tied  near  each  extremity,  and  laid  by,  for  sale  or  for  use, 
in  a  dry  place. 

The  value  of  silk  when  ready  for  sale  depends  on  the  ab- 
sence of  knobs  and  of  knots  which  occasion  it  to  be  called 
foul.  To  judge  if  silk  be  clean,  or  free  from  imperfections,  is 
an  art  very  easily  attained.  It  is  only  necessary  to  stand  with 
your  back  to  the  window,  and  to  open  the  skein,  and  looking 
down  in  the  direction  of  the  light,  any  foulness  which  may 
exist,  is  readily  perceived  by  the  practised  eye.  But  the  fine- 
ness of  the  thread  is  determined  by  a  certain  known  ad- 
measurement of  the  circumference  of  the  reel  and  skein,  the 
number  of  threads,  and  the  weight.  A  given  number,  usually 
a  skein  of  400  revolutions,  is  removed  from  the  reel  and  ac- 
curately weighed. 


PART  V. 


SYRIAN  SILK  CULTURE, 


From  the  pen  of  J.  Barton  Hay,  late  Consul  General  in  Syria. 


EARLY  in  the  month  of  February  the  leaves  of  the  Leba- 
non Mulberry  put  forth,  and  the  mites  of  silk  worms 
issue  by  thousands  from  the  eggs,  and  are  immediately  placed 
in  small,  round  flat  baskets  covered  with  clay,  where  they  are 
forthwith  supplied  with  the  tender  leaves.  Day  by  day  the 
leaf  increases  in  size,  so  the  silk  worms  rapidly  grow  in  propor- 
tion, till  from  almost  being  invisible  mites,  and  then  the  size  of 
ants,  in  the  course  of  a  week  they  attain  to  nearly  half  an  inch 
in  length,  and  have  to  be  transferred  to  baskets  double  the 
size  of  the  first  ones.  Meanwhile  the  peasant  and  his  wife  have 
had  no  sinecures.  While  the  former  has  been  busy  in  remedy- 
ing what  damages  the  khooks  may  have  received  during  the 
winter,  the  latter  aided  by  her  children,  has  gathered  at  inter- 
vals the  necessary  supply  of  food  for  the  worms  ;  being  careful 
first  that  the  leaves  should  be  perfectly  dry,  because  one  drop 
of  dew  amongst  the  leaves  would  be  fatal  to  a  whole  basketful 
of  worms.  The  khooks  referred  to,  are  long,  narrow,  slight 
structures  of  twigs  and  leaves  intertwined,  and  supported  at 
intervals  by  stout  stems  of  old,  useless  mulberry  trees  ;  while 
the  roofing  is  composed  of  thick  layers  of  rushes,  so  plentiful 
in  the  marshy  lands,  which  are  impervious  to  rain  ;  for,  on  the 
9 


ISO  Instruction  Book  in  the 

one  hand,  whilst  the  worms  must  be  effectually  protected  from 
rain  or  dews,  on  the  other  hand,  they  require  a  free  circulation 
of  air,  a  point  which  is  attained  by  the  net-work  structure  of 
the  sides  of  the  khook.  The  interior  consists  of  a  number  of 
shelves  on  either  side,  which  are  made  of  a  species  of  slit-reed 
mat-work,  and  rise  one  above  another  in  tiers  from  three 
to  four,  according  to  the  size  of  the  khook,  the  lowest  being  at 
least  two  feet  from  the  floor,  and  the  uppermost  about  a  foot 
from  the  roof  These  shelves  are  called  batoors,  and  accord- 
ing to  their  number  is  reckoned  the  wealth  of  the  proprietor, 
and  the  quantity  of  silk  they  will  produce  ;  thus,  in  speaking 
of  any  particular  mulberry  plantation  the  natives,  in  bargain- 
ing, regulate  the  worth  by  saying :  "Oh,  it  has  only  so  many 
batoors,  and  can  therefore  only  produce  such  a  number  of 
rotolos  of  silk ;  the  rotolo  being  equivalent  to  five  and  a  half 
pounds  English. 

To  the  khooks,  after  the  expiration  of  two  weeks  or  so,  the 
worms  are  removed  and  spread  upon  the  batoors,  above  alluded 
to,  which  have  been  carefully  and  thickly  lined  with  mulberry 
leaves,  to  prevent  the  worms  from  falling  through.  Soon  after 
this  final  transfer  of  the  worm,  begins  that  strange  phenome- 
non of  apparent  utter  lifelessness,  which  lasts  for  forty-eight 
hours,  during  which  interval  the  creature  is  changing  its  first 
skin,  having  outgrown  its  India-rubber  capacities.  The  natives 
call  this  the  first  soanie,  or  fast.  During  the  soames  which  are 
three  in  number,  at  intervals  of  about  a  fortnight  each,  the 
worms  require  no  food.  As  they  approach  maturity,  the  appe- 
tite becomes  prodigious,  and  early  and  late  has  the  peasant  to 
labor,  lopping  down  huge  branches  of  the  mulberries,  till  what 
was  a  verdant  and  beautiful  plantation  becomes  a  wilderness 
of  leafless  branches.  But  so  congenial  is  the  climate  and  so 
fertile  the  soil,  that  in  less  than  a  month  afterwards,  fresh 
sprouts  are  covered  with  tender  leaves,  so  that  in  autumn  so 
thick  is  the  foliage,  so  stout  the  branches,  that  the  stranger 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  ISl 

would  never  guess  how  recently  they  had  been  lopped.  When 
the  first  leaves  of  winter  fall,  then  are  the  trees  again  denuded 
of  their  foliage.  This  time,  however,  the  branches  are  spared, 
and  the  leaves  gathered  by  hand,  and  stored  up  against  winter, 
when  with  the  manure  of  the  worms,  they  serve  as  fodder  for 
the  oxen,  which  would  otherwise  starve.  The  branches 
lopped  off  at  first  form  a  plentiful  supply  of  firewood  for  the 
peasant's  family. 

The  third  or  last  soame,  or  fast,  is  the  signal  for  the  peasant 
to  procure  as  much  brushwood  as  he  can,  which,  when  dried 
in  the  sun,  he  throws  lightly  upon  the  batoors,  or  shelves. 
During  this  interval,  the  worms  have  become  of  a  transparent 
golden  color,  and  the  moment  they  wake  up  again  for  the  first 
time  in  their  lives  assume  a  migratory  disposition.  They  se- 
lect a  fitting  spot  amongst  the  twigs  for  their  cocoons.  And 
now,  whilst  the  little  industrious  worms  are  hard  at  work 
weaving,  the  peasants  are  not  one  whit  less  busy  preparing  for 
them  a  cruel  death. 

Huge  wheels,  which  have  been  hidden  for  the  last  twelve 
months,  are  brought  to  light  again  and  brushed  up,  the  reser- 
voir of  water  fresh  lined  with  clay,  and  the  whole  apparatus 
set  up  against  the  first  day  of  reeling.  One  peasant  turns  the 
wheel ;  another  feeds  it  with  the  worms  ;  another  stirs  up  the 
worms  being  reeled  with  something  like  a  schoolmaster's 
birch-rod  ;  a  fourth  feeds  the  fire  ;  a  fifth  supplies  the  basin 
with  water  as  it  becomes  exhausted  ;  a  sixth  renovates  the 
basket  with  fresh  cocoons  ;  whilst  near  by,  seated  on  a  mat, 
are  two  or  three  occupied  in  picking  the  stuff  from  off  the  out- 
side of  the  cocoons,  and  this  material  is  known  as  cotton-silk  or 
floss.  They  labor  hard  and  long,  but  with  good-will;  during 
the  first  week  after  the  cocoons  are  formed,  since  they  obtain 
30  per  cent,  more  silk  now  than  they  will  after  that  date,  because 
then  the  cocoons  have  to  be  stifled  to  prevent  the  moths — into 
which  they  are  rapidly  being  converted — boring  through  the 


IPS  Instruction  Book  in  the 

cocoons,  and   so    rendering  them  utterly    valueless  and   un- 
available.* 

The  process  of  stifling  is  with  the  cocoon  as  simple  a's  the 
process  of  reeling.  Spread  out  upon  mats,  the  cocoons  are 
exposed  to  the  fierce  heat  of  the  mid-day  sun  for  a  day  or  two, 
being  carefully  turned  at  intervals  during  the  process,  and  this 
answers  quite  as  well  as  the  ovens  so  indispensable  in  less 
congenial  climes  where  the  silk  worm  is  reared.  After  this 
process,  the  silk-reelers  take  it  more  easily.  They  know  now 
that  were  they  to  work  ever  so  hard,  they  cannot  abstract  one 
thread  more  of  silk  from  the  suffocated  cocoons,  and  there  is 
no  fear  of  the  moths  boring  their  way  through.  Day  by  day  the 
scene  becomes  more  picturesque,  as  golden  festoons  of  newly 
reeled  silk  are  suspended  from  branch  to  branch  to  dry,  and 
set  off  the  beautiful  foliage  of  the  orange  and  lemon  trees.  By 
this  method  of  reeling,  they  are  supposed  to  obtain  o?ie  pound 
of  silk  from  evejy  Jive  and  a  half  pounds  of  live  cocooiis,  and 
just  half  that  amount  from  those  that  have  been  stifled. 

Of  late  years  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  Syrian  silk,  by  the  erection  of  European  fac- 
tories, and  introduction  of  steam  for  motive  power  in  them. 

The  cocoons  left  for  seed,  are  perforated  by  the  beautiful, 
short  lived,  white,  velvety-looking  moths,  into  which  the  silk- 
worm has  been  converted.  The  females  deposit  on  linen 
spread  for  them,  an  incredible  amount  of  eggs,  which  constitute 
the  peasant's  supply  of  seed  for  the  next  season. 

When  these  are  perfectly  dry,  they  are  carefully  scraped  off 
into  a  linen  bag,  and  suspended  from  the  ceiling  of  the 
peasant's  hut,  where  they  remain  undisturbed  for  a  twelve- 
month to  come. 

March,  1882. 


*This  plan  is  pursued  when  the  reeling  is  done  very  hurriedly,  or  immediately  after  the 
cocoon  is  perfectly  formed,  and  before  it  is  stifled. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  138 

The  following  letter  is  from  Mr.  Werner  Itschner,  of  Phila- 
delphia, an  extensive  manufacturer  of  ribbon  and  silk  goods, 
and  who  was  one  of  the  judges  for  the  awarding  of  the 
Strawbridge  &  Clothier  premiums  ;  and  at  our  solicitation  he 
gives  his  views  of  the  chief  points  to  be  observed  in  rearing 
good  cocoons  : — 

Philadelphia,  February  7,  1882. 

To  THE  Women's  Silk  Culture  Association. 

Your  request,  that  I  should  make  a  few  remarks  about  the 
testing  of  the  cocoons  may  be  best  answered,  by  the  following 
statement : — 

It  is  generally  understood  that  the  worms  take  a  great  deal 
oi  room,  attention,  cleajiing  and  feeding.  It  will  naturally  be 
necessary  to  find  the  kind  of  cocoon  that  gives  the  most  silk, 
p7'ovided  the.  article  obtained  is  of  a  good  marketable  quality, 
by  which  I  mean  than  it  has  proper  strength  for  working  the 
thread,  and  good  uniform  color  and  lustre. 

We,  as  judges,  have  therefore  given  the  first  three  premiums 
to  the  cocoons  of  which  the  smallest  number  have  given  the 
largest  amount  of  silk,  and  the  very  first  premium  we  have 
awarded  to  the  cocoons,  amongst  these  three,  which  have  at 
the  same  time  given  the  strongest,  cleanest,  and  most  valua- 
ble silk  for  commerce,  and  we  hope  the  producer  of  these 
cocoons  has  the  chance  of  getting  the  seed  again  for  himself 
and  others,  and  I  would  also  advise  the  ladies  of  the  Associa- 
tion to  publish  for  the  benefit  of  the  others,  the  observations 
which  can  be  obtained  from  the  producer  of  the  best  cocoons, 
because  the  good  result  may  have  not  depended  on  the  quality 
of  the  seed  alone,  but  may  have  been  owing  to  the  way  of 
feeding,  and  to  other  details  in  taking  care  of  the  worms. 

Most  of  the  silk  obtained  from  the  twenty-six  lots  of  co- 
coons, I  have  found  to  be  beautiful,  but  rather  fine  in  size  for 
reeling,  say  25,500  yards  to  the  ounce,  which  is  hard  to  work 


1S4  Instruction  Book  in  the 

up.  This  condition  arose  from  the  thread  coming  from  too 
few  cocoons  in  the  reeling — probably  three  or  four  instead  of 
five  or  six.  Five  cocoons  is  considered  in  reeling  to  make 
the  most  desirable  thread  for  commerce. 

The  cocoons  to  which  the  second  premium  is  awarded 
come  so  very  near  to  those  of  the  first  premium,  that  nothing 
more  need  be  said  of  this  lot  except  that  the  observations 
obtained  from  this  producer  may  also  be  profitably  used  again. 

The  third  premium  was  awarded  to  cocoons  raised  partly 
from  Osage  orange  leaves*  They  are  of  small  size,  but  have 
given  a  very  extraordinary  amount  of  good  silk  from  the  four 
ounces  of  cocoons  reeled  up,  and  this  way  of  feeding  is  to  be 
regarded  of  great  consequence  in  this  country  where  the 
Osage  is  so  abundant. 

I,  however,  would  not  encourage  feeding  07tly  on  Osage, 
because  I  doubt  if  the  silk  would  be  as  good. 

The  other  awards  and  honorable  mentions  were  given  to  the 
next  best  cocoons,  taking  always  into  consideration  the  result 
in  weight  of  silk,  and  the  quality  of  the  silk  obtained,  but  I 
must  say  that,  with  the  exception  of  only  two  or  three  lots, 
there  was  no  bad  silk. 

There  were  some  very  lai'ge  cocoons  which  contained  almost 
no  silk,  which  may  have  been  the  result  of  poor  feeding.  The 
necessity  of  feeding  the  worms  with  as  much  as  they  can  eat, 
which  alone  gives  them  power  to  produce  silk,  may  in  these 
cases,'  not  have  been  well  enough  known. 

It  is  not  enough  to  keep  the  worms  only  alive. 

It  is  easy  to  see  that  it  must  be  more  profitable  to  get  one- 
and-a-half  ounces  of  silk  out  of  150  cocoons,  than  to  get  the 
same  amount  of  silk  out  of  300  cocoons,  or  even 'only  one 
ounce  of  silk  out  of  350  cocons,  of  which  we  had  some  cases. 
This  can  be  done  only  by  &vi\^\oy'w\g  first  good  seed,  second  by 

*  This  same  gentleman  wove  for  the  Association,  twenty  yards  of  scarlet  ribbon  from  six  and 
a  half  ounces  of  Osage  orange  cocoons,  having  from  this  amount  y%  oz.  waste. 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  133 

great  attention  to  the  comfort  of  the  worm,  and  by  giving  him 
all  the  leaves  he  can  eat,  because  the  worm  is  short  lived,  and 
must  make  a  very  long  thread  out  of  the  food  furnished  to 
him. 

If  he  only  gets  enough  to  live  on  he  will  only  leave  behind 
him  an  empty  shell,  in  place  of  a  cocoon  full  of  silk. 

The  test  which  was  made  by  taking  one  quarter  of  each 
pound  of  cocoons,  and  having  this  quarter  pound  reeled — 
counting  the  cocoons — giving  very  carefully  the  amount  of 
silk  obtained  is  a  very  excellent  one.  Another  year  it  would 
be  still  further  improved  by  having  these  skeins  reeled  off  and 
made  into  yarn,  and  having  them  dyed  all  into  one  uniform 
color,  and  have  premiums  awarded  to  those  that  prove  the 
best  in  all  the  processes.  All  this  can  be  done  here  in  Phila- 
delphia. Respectfully, 

Werner  Itschner, 

The  thanks  of  the  Association  are  due  to  Mr.  Itschner  for 
this  valuable  letter,  which  puts  in  a  plain,  business-like  man- 
ner, a  {Q'ff  facts  useful  to  silk  culturists,  and  shows  the  need 
of  careful  attention  to  the  prominent  points  of  good  seed, 
cleanliness  and  free  feeding,  with  the  right  kind  of  food,  which 
is  mulberry.  Osage  orange  will  do  for  experiments,  may 
entirely  do  for  silk  of  commerce,  but  when  food  must  be 
planted  we  urge  the  mulberry. 


136  Instruction  Book  in  the 


Letter  from  one  of  the  Ladies  who  received  a  Premium 
AT  THE  Silk  Exhibit  of  1882. 

Camden,  February  20,  1882. 

To  the  Women's  Silk  Culture  Association  of  the  United 
States,  in  Philadelphia. 

Agreeable  to  your  request  and  my  promise,  I  will  give  you 
a  few  items  from  my  observation  of  many  years  experience  in 
raising  silk  worms.  First.  I  base  the  quantity  and  quality  of 
silk  produced  upon  the  quantity  and  quality  of  food  from  the 
hatching  to  the  spinning.  The  selection  of  the  best  tender 
leaves  during  the  first  ten  days  or  till  after  the  second  moult,  is 
of  great  importance ;  even  though  it  may  be  when  the  tree 
first  puts  forth  its  leaves,  there  is  a  choice  of  leaves  for  the  in- 
fa  nt  worms.  After  the  second  moult,  the  worms  are  able  to  eat 
leaves  a  little  thicker  and  each  day  shows  their  ability  for 
stronger  food.  After  the  last  moult,  use  the  thickest  and  best 
leaves  the  tree  produces.  If  the  leaves  are  very  thick,  and  in 
picking  show  a  rich,  milky  juice,  they  are  the  very  best  for 
the  last  week's  feeding  for  quality  and  quantity  of  silk.  From 
the  hatching  to  the  spinning  give  them  all  they  can  eat,  feed- 
ing them  early  in  the  morning  and  through  the  day  as  often 
as  they  consume  the  food,  and  as  late  as  ten  o'clock  evening, 
observing  the  days  of  moulting  when  they  require  little,  as  di- 
rected in  C.  V.  Riley's  book,  at  the  Agricultural  Department 
at  Washington. 

Never  use  wet  leaves,  if  the  leaves  are  dusty  they  should  be 
wiped  with  a  soft  cloth.  Wilted  leaves  will  not  produce  much 
silk.  I  usually  gather  leaves  for  the  day  in  the  morning,  while 
they  are  cool  from  the  night  atmosphere  and  find  them  to  keep 
fresh  in  the  cellar  through  the  day ;  at  sunset  gather  for  the 
morning  feed,  never  had  any  inconvenience  from  dew,  (perhaps 
low,  bushy   trees   might  have  dew  on  them.)     Morning  and 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  1S7 

evening  is  the  most  available  time  to  have  farm-help  to  assist 
in  gathering  leaves,  and  we  always  practiced  this  way  with  a 
good  result.  Temperature  for  worms  requires  attention,  and 
a  thermometer  is  the  standard  test  and  a  regulator  for  persons 
inexperienced.  Temperature  as  noted  in  C.  V.  Riley's  book, 
probably  is  correct.  I  think  if  carried  out  fully,  would  be 
practical     (I  have  never  used  a  thermometer  for  this  purpose.) 

Worms  need  air  in  the  room,  but  avoid  a  draft  on  them, 
especially  when  small. 

For  convenience  I  have  found  it  a  good  way  to  place  the 
worms  just  hatched  in  open  paper  boxes,  about  two  inches 
high,  this  rather  protects  them  from  a  draft  of  air  ;  they  may 
be  kept  till  two  weeks  old  in  this  way  in  the  sitting-room, 
where  they  will  be  little  trouble  and  pretty  sure  to  have  atten- 
tion. To  keep  each  day's  hatching  separate  is  well  suggested 
by  C.  V.  Riley  ,  .  .  Choking  cocoons.  The  steam  pro- 
cess I  have  not  tested  ;  should  think  it  good. 

I  put  mine  in  paper  boxes,  about  three  layers  of  cocoons, 
and  set  them  in  the  oven  on  slats  of  wood,  the  slats  prevent 
the  heat  from  scorching  the  cocoons  ;  watching  carefully  not 
to  have  them  overheated  from  the  top,  in  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  removed  them,  as  all  sound  and  motion  ceased  and 
life  extinct,  then  spread  them  in  a  room  for  the  dead  chrysalis 
to  dry,  great  care  that  ants  do  not  get  to  them  as  they  will 
pierce  the  cocoon. 

If  the  cocoon  remains  a  long  time  in  an  oven,  the  silk  dries 
together  and  does  not  reel  freely.  This  method  requires 
thought  and  judgment  as  to  the  heat  and  time  to  destroy  life, 
and  no  positive  rule  can  be  given.  While  by  steaming  it  may 
be  easier  to  follow  a  prescribed  direction.  Forty  years  ago  it 
was  the  practice  to  reel  as  soon  as  the  cocoons  were  completed. 
Reason  given  ;  they  reel  more  freely  before  they  dry.  But, 
if  any  had  to  be  choked  it  was  done  by  putting  them  in  the 
sun  in  tin  pans,  upon  a  scaffold   against  the  south   side  of  a 


138  Instruction  Book. 


building,  where  they  received  great  concentrated  heat  from 
nine  o'clock  A.  M.  till  three  P.  M.,  and  this  generally  was 
sufficient.  Of  course,  they  were  spread  thin  and  stirred  occa- 
sionally and  a  still  day,  was  desirable. 

Reproduction  of  eggs.     We  always  select  the  firmest,  best 
color,  finest  looking  silk,  and  every  way  the  best  cocoons. 
Yours  Respectfully, 

Mrs.  H.  M.  Button. 
Camden,  March  1882. 


CONCLUSION. 


In  closing  this  revised  edition  of  the  Book  of  Instruction  in 
Silk  Culture,  we  appeal  to  the  public  for  their  kind  considera- 
tion in  behalf  of  its  imperfections.  Our  desire  has  been  to 
give  various,  plain,  simple  processes  for  the  use  of  the  people, 
unvarnished  by  sentimentalisms  and  technicalities,  or  compli- 
cated by  foreign  expressions  and  botanical  terms,  so  frequently 
occurring  in  the  books  of  instruction  copied  from  foreign 
authors.  We  hope  it  may  convey  the  plain,  simple  facts,  re- 
quired to  give  aid  to  intelligent  minds,  and  to  help  the  simple 
folk  into  intelligent  comprehension  of  vi^hat  they  must  do,  to 
carry  on  successfully  this  most  interesting  and  instructive 
home  industry.  We  desire  to  guard  the  people  against  any 
false  statements,  of  profit  and  gain,  as  well  as  against  the 
fallacy  of  silk  culture  as  a  city  industry.  Reeling  silk  may 
eventually  become  so,  yet  it  is  desirable  that  reeling  shall  con- 
stitute the  winter  work  of  this  home  industry  in  the  country. 
True,  it  is  urged,  that  reeling  should  be  done,  while  the  co- 
coons dixe  fresh,  (immediately  after  the  cocoons  are  formed), 
and  thus  avoid  the  process  of  choking  or  killing  the  chrysalis  ; 
this  can  be  done,  when  hurredly  packed  and  sent  to  the  steam 
filature,  or  reeling  mills,  but  as  no  such  establishments  exist 
as  yet  in  our  country,  we  recommend  the  home  reeling.  From 
the  agent  of  the  largest  Chinese  silk  house,  in  New  York,  we 
have  been  assured,  that  hand-reeled  silk  is  preferred  for  the 
highest  grades  of  manufacture,  Ti7ne  will  be  required  to 
perfect  this  part  of  the  industry,  as  in  every  new  undertaking 
of  an    industrial    character.      Patience    will   be    needed,   but 


140  Instruction  Book  in  the 

we  earnestly  urge  silk  reeling  at  home.  We  would  invite 
agricultural  schools  to  teach  a  process  of  silk  reeling,  that  the 
young  may  learn  this  delicate,  but  easily  taught  branch  of 
silk  culture.  It  could  hardly  be  expected  that  a  few  women, 
even  if  bent  on  a  benevolent  project,  could  attempt  to  teach 
silk  reeling  throughout  the  States.  It  would  require  much 
outlay  in  the  Association,  and  expenditure  by  those  living  at 
a  distance  in  travelling  expenses  ;  the  true  place  to  propagate 
this  branch  of  the  industry,  is  in  our  technical  and  agricul- 
tural schools  and  colleges.  We  are  supported  (and  illy)  by 
voluntary  contributions,  have  feeble  means,  but  have  demon- 
strated the  facts  of  the  case  fully — have  put  before  the  public 
a  .simple  reel — which,  can  be  ordered  through  the  Association, 
either  of  metal  or  wood,  at  prices  within  the  reach  of  families. 
The  Metal  reel  is  a  neat,  attractive  piece  of  machinery,  as 
per  illustration  on  page  122,  and  can  be  sold  for — 

Plain  Reel,  without  pan ^50  oo 

"         "      with  copper  pan  and  table,      .         .         .  65  00 

"         "          "     tin  pan  and  table,  .          .  '       .          .  58  00 

Extra  wheel  or  reel, 12  00 

The  wooden  reel  is  less  complicated,  reels  just  as  good  silk, 
(would  probably  not  be  quite  as  durable  in  wear  and  tear)  but 
effectual  for  all  the  purposes  of  reeling  the  best  commercial 
silk.  Can  be  sold  for  ^20.00.  Orders  will  be  received  through 
the  Association  at  1328  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia. 

In  closing  these  few  remarks,  we  earnestly  urge  the  intelli- 
gent portion  of  residents  in  small  country  towns  to  aid  in  do- 
mesticating silk  culture  throughout  their  neighborhood  among 
their  poorer  classes,  small  agriculturalists  especially  ;  not  to 
be  discouraged  if  first  expeHments  are  not  entirely  successful, 
time  and  experience  are  needed  to  the  perfection  of  any  work. 
Sericulture  has  been  for  centuries  an  industry  of  the  old  world, 
but,   during   the   last   thirty  years,  it  has   been  in  decadence 


Art  of  Silk  Culture.  141 

owing  to  the  prevalence  of  disease  among  the  silk  worms,  and 
in  the  face  of  this  fact,  added  to  a  growing  demand  among  all 
the  peoples  of  the  world,  and  a  home  market  consuming  up- 
wards of  ^  1 5 ,000,000  worth  of  raw  silk  annually,  increasing  at 
a  ratio  of  2,000,000  per  year,  I  heartily  recommend  this  in- 
dustry to  the  teeming  thousands  of  our  own  land.  With  an 
emigration  to  our  shores  which  the  fiscal  year  up  to  June, 
1882,  foots  up  at  800,000,  it  behooves  us  to  plant  new  agricul- 
tural industries,  that  these  crowds  of  new  comers  may  develop 
our  vast  plains  into  fertile  farms,  and  not  crowd  our  teeming 
cities  to  the  dangers  of  a  surplus  of  consumers  with  a  deficit 
of  creators.  With  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  Sericulture  as 
a  home  industry  among  the  women  and  children  of  our  vast 
country,  and  a  hope  that  ere  long,  the  thousands  of  humming 
looms  of  our  country  will  weave  nought  but  the  golden 
threads  raised  by  our  own  people,  dividing  among  them  the 
treasure  now  carried  to  other  lands,  I  am  your  earnest  co- 
worker and  friend. 

Mrs.  John  Lucas, 

Preside7it  of  the  WomerCs  Silk  Culture  Association  of  the  United 
States,  Office,  IJ28  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia. 

June,  1S82. 


INDEX 


Page. 

Preface, 3 

Introduction, 5 


PART  I. 

Remarks  on  the  Cultivation  of  the  Mulberry   for   the  Food 

OF  Silkworms, , 7 

Morus  Tartarica,  Moretti  Elata,  Morus  Japonica, 9 

Morus  Alba, lO 

Morus  Alba  Rosea,  Morus  Alba  Nana, il 

Morus  Multicaulis,  Remarks, I2 

To  obtain  the  Seed, 1$ 

Time  of  Sowing,  Manner  of  Sowing, l6 

Subsequent  Culture  of  the  Seed  Beds  and  Seedlings l^ 

Sowing  Broadcast,  Transplanting, l8 

The  Secd-Bed,  The  Nursery,  The  Hedge, 19 

The  Dwarf  Orchard, 21 

The  Hedge  Plantation, 22 

Plantation  for  Standards,  Pruning,  Suckers,  Cultivation  of  the  Multicaulis,  24 

Layers, 27 

The  Osage  Orange,  State  of  Leaves  proper  for  Feeding, ,    .  28 

Important  to  Silk-Growers, 30 

The  Rearing  of  the  Silkworm, 32 

The  Cocoonery, 33 

Hatching, 34 

The  Passes,      37 

The  Grasserie,  the  Yellows,  The  Tripes,  or  Mort  Blanc, 38 

Enemies  to  the  Silkworms,  Space  Statistics, 39 

Rearing  the  Worms — First  Age 43 


Index. 


143 


Page, 

Development, ^^ 

Second  Age, ^' 

Third  Age, 49 

Fourth  Age, 5^ 

Fifth  Age, 54 

General  Remarks  on  the  Fifth  Age, 5^ 

Sixth  Age, 58 

Seventh  Age, 59 

Preservation  of  the  Eggs, "° 

Stifling  the  Chrysalids, ^' 


PART   II. 

The  Silkworm,  its  Education  and  Reproduction, 63 

The  Art  of  Raising  Silkworms, "5 

Keeping  the  Grain,  and  Hatching  the  same, 7° 

Feeding  the  Worms, 7^ 

Spinning  Cocoons, 74 

Graining, '5 

Diseases  of  the  Silkworm, 77 

Profit   of    Growing    Silk, ^5 

Conclusion, 7 


PART  III. 

Directions  for  the  Management  of  a  Cocoonery— Hatching,   ...  89 

Feeding, 9° 

Moulting,  Spinning, 9^ 

Gathering  and  sorting  the  Cocoons;  Choking  or  stifling  the  Chrysalids,  .  93 

Reeling,  Egg  Raising,  Markets  and  Prices, 95 

General  Information— The  Silkworm,  Food,  Room, 96 

Apparatus, 97 

The  Mulberry, 99 


144  Index. 


PART  IV. 

Pack. 

Rearing  the  Silkworm, -  loi 

Extracts  from  the  Chinese;  Wou-pen-sin-chou, 105 

Nong-Sang-Pi-Kioue, 106 

Ho-pi-sse-loui;    What-Hoang-sing-tseng  says;    Manner  of  Feeding    the 

Newly-Hatched  Silkworms, 107 

Method  of  Diminishing  the  Food  and  Hastening  the  Moulting ;  Nongsang- 

thong-kioue 108 

An  estimate  of  Silk  Culture  in  1840, 109 

Interior  view  of  a  Cocoonery, 1 10 

Stifling  the  Cocoon  or  Chrysalide, 1 14 

Transporting  Cocoons ;  Reeling, 117 

The  New  Silk  Reel, 123 

Different  Qualities  of  Cocoons, 124 

Disbanding  the  Reel, 127 


PART  V. 

Syrian  Silk  Culture, 128 

Letter  from  Werner  Itschner, 133 

Letter  from  Mrs.  H.  M.  Button, 136 

Conclusion; 139 


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